Stockport County send late-window message to Wrexham and Wycombe Wanderers | OneFootball

The Hatters’ late moves showed the teams around them that they aren’t going anywhere

Stockport County looked to be having a relatively quiet window until deadline day arrived.

On the final day of the window, they brought in Brad Hills from Norwich City and Sam Cosgrove from Barnsley — both on loan — as well as Owen Moxon on a permanent deal from Portsmouth.

In adding a defender, midfielder, and forward, the Hatters strengthened the entire spine of their team in under 24 hours.

It was a clear signal to the rest of the league that they have no intention of fading in the last few months of the season.

First Stockport County deadline-day signing arguably the most important

The first to arrive on the day was Hills on loan from the Canaries.

It was a vital addition, with the injury to Fraser Horsfall, and Dave Challinor favouring a back three in recent weeks, it left Ethan Pye as the only natural centre-back at the club.

Although Callum Connolly stepped into the breach almost faultlessly, it was a clear issue that one more injury threatened to turn into a crisis, so Hills’ signing was more than welcome.

The 20-year-old arrives with strong League Two experience from last season, having appeared 41 times for Accrington Stanley — impressive for a young loanee centre-back — and has even made three Championship appearances for Norwich this season.

He now looks ready to establish himself at a level higher than Accrington with County and should be a strong addition to the squad.

Owen Moxon from Portsmouth was the clear fan favourite

The media team at County saved probably the most exciting announcement until last, signing Owen Moxon on a permanent three-and-a-half-year deal from Portsmouth.

The midfielder generated much excitement at former club Carlisle United and it was Pompey who won the race for him 12 months prior.

He played an important role in the latter part of the 2023/24 season at Portsmouth, with the South Coast club ultimately winning promotion from the third tier. He has found minutes harder to come by in the Championship, so it is the Hatters that benefit from his experience as he bids for more time on the pitch.

Sandwiched between those two deals was the loan move for Cosgrove, who has managed only one goal this season at the fellow third-tier side, but County fans know all about forwards arriving out-of-form thanks to Louie Barry, so he’ll get a fair hearing at Edgeley Park.

Should that loan move go well, Cosgrove is out of contract at Barnsley this summer, so this looks like a low-cost way to give the forward an extended trial — a contract will surely be offered at the end of the season if all goes well.

Stockport County’s business was a clear signal to the rest of League One

With the Hatters stepping into the third tier for the first time in a long time, against teams as strong as Huddersfield Town and perennial league neighbours Wrexham — not to mention former Premier League sides in Reading, Charlton Athletic, Bolton Wanderers, Blackpool and Wigan Athletic — it would have been fair to suggest that promotion wasn’t the main priority in Stockport.

But now, into February, with the Hatters in a strong fourth place, missing out on a play-off place from here would feel somewhat like a disappointment.

There are only nine points between them and Wycombe Wanderers, currently occupying the last automatic spot, with Wrexham wedged in between.

A disastrous slip-up would be required to see Birmingham City fall out of the race, but County are still very much in place for second place.

Rather than clinging on for dear life, the Hatters’ deadline-day business showed they feel as though they’re meant to be there, and they’ll be giving everything to try and beat their stablemates to passage to the Championship.