Stockport County must resolve key contract scenario before the end of the season | OneFootball

A Hatters fan favourite is set to be out of contract at the end of this campaign

Stockport County have an upcoming contract situation to solve with midfielder Will Collar.

The 28-year-old signed a three-year deal at the end of the 2021/22 season, which is due to expire at the end of this season.

Collar has been a key midfielder for the Hatters since he joined the club in the National League and, despite heavy recruitment in that area, is still a first-team regular.

His adaptability, positionally, to new teammates and to new leagues, along with his ability on the pitch, are all qualities that boss Dave Challinor will be keen to keep at the club.

Will Collar is vital to Stockport County

The midfielder has started 25 of the Hatters’ 31 League One games this season, netting five goals and an assist in those outings.

He signed for the club in February 2021 on a free transfer from Scottish side Hamilton Academical, having worked with then-manager Simon Rusk in the youth ranks at Brighton & Hove Albion.

On his signing, Rusk said: “Will has good recent pedigree from his time in the Scottish Premier League, and will provide composure and versatility in what is now a very competitive midfield.”

That proved true in the National League but, remarkably, remains true with the club now at the top end of League One.

Versatility has been Will Collar’s key

Rusk mentioned Collar’s versatility in a signing announcement that labelled him a “defensive midfielder” but pinning him to just one position would undersell the options he provides to Challinor.

He has turned out in a traditional midfield role this season, but more prominently, he has played further forward in the centre and also on the right wing. It’s also in his locker to make the odd rare appearance at right-back.

With a squad not unfamiliar with injury issues, Collar’s adaptability and willingness to do any job Challinor requires has been key, not just in this season but throughout County’s rise from the National League.

His determination to get the job done, fight on the pitch and work relentlessly in attack and defence have made him a fan favourite, and also explain why getting him tied to a new deal is crucial.

Will Collar has remained constant despite heavy recruitment

Although he can pop up almost anywhere on the pitch, Collar’s main position is in the centre of the park.

Just in the last year, he has seen the likes of Lewis Fiorini from Manchester City, Ollie Norwood from Sheffield United, Lewis Bate from Leeds United and Owen Moxon from Portsmouth arrive, looking for similar spaces in the squad to Collar.

Despite that, he has remained a constant feature of Challinor’s starting XIs, and has performed well in the various roles he’s been asked to fill.

The fact that he has grown with the club from the National League and has adjusted to each step up, genuinely warranting his regular inclusion, makes Collar a crucial player both for his performances and for morale inside Edgeley Park.

The Hatters must get Collar tied down to a new deal as he enters what should be his prime years or risk losing everything he offers to County for free at the end of this season.