Northampton Town manager Chris Hogg has confirmed the club is in discussions with trialists Grant Ward and Lennon Wheeldon after their 3-0 pre-season defeat to Leicester City. The Cobblers are evaluating the experienced midfielder and young forward for potential contracts ahead of the 2026/27 League Two season.
Who are the trialists?
Grant Ward, a 31-year-old midfielder, started against Leicester City, while 20-year-old forward Lennon Wheeldon came off the bench. Ward, a former Ipswich Town and Blackpool player, has 131 League One appearances but no League Two experience. Wheeldon, a Derby County academy graduate, scored five goals for South Shields last season.
What happened in the trial match?
Northampton Town fielded both trialists in their first pre-season friendly, a 3-0 loss to League One side Leicester City. Ward played the full match, while Wheeldon featured in the second half. Manager Chris Hogg noted that Wheeldon had been training with the club for some time, but did not specify Ward's trial duration.
What comes next for Northampton Town?
Hogg emphasized the importance of recruitment before the League Two season begins on August 15. The Cobblers will make decisions on Ward and Wheeldon after further evaluation. Their first competitive match is a Carabao Cup clash against Leicester City on August 8, followed by the league opener against Swindon Town.
