Northampton Town picked up their first win of the League One season at the weekend after beating Exeter City. However, Kevin Nolan’s side have lost of their star players this summer as defender Aaron McGowan turned down a new contract to seek a move elsewhere.
The 29-year-old has made 131 appearances for the club since joining in 2021, but his future lies away from Sixfields Stadium. He has yet to find a new club after announcing he would leave at the end of last season.
Defender Has Made a Major Impact on Northampton Town
McGowan was part of the League Two promotion-winning side in 2022/23 but highlighted his importance in helping the club to secure survival in the third tier last season. The defender has always been a consistent performer; however, he played a pivotal role towards the end of the 2024/25 season.
Taking the captain’s armband and moving into the centre of defence upon the appointment of Kevin Nolan, the former Morecambe player ranked in the top four at the club for successful tackles, second for clearances, and first for shots blocked as Northampton Town narrowly avoided relegation to League Two.
The defender regularly comes out on top in aerial duels, ranking third at the club for total won last season. After playing a key role in the team, picking up eight points in the final six matches of the 2024/25 campaign, the player will not be at Northampton Town, as he has turned down a new deal. This means he is available as a free agent after his contract at Sixfields expired this summer.
EFL Clubs Chase Experienced Promotion Winner
McGowan has made over 160 appearances in League Two across spells with Northampton Town and Morecambe, in addition to his recent experience in the third tier. He is arguably in his prime, and it is no surprise that Pete O’Rourke is reporting that a number of clubs in Leagues One and Two are chasing the defender.
The former Kilmarnock player has also appeared 69 times in the Scottish Premiership and should be a suitable fit for most teams in either the third or fourth tiers.
The player may be targeting a move to a club competing at the top of League One, having turned down a new deal at Northampton Town, and if that is the case, it would be a just reward for his displays over the past couple of seasons. McGowan offered an update on his search for a new club, telling BBC Radio Northampton recently:
“I’ve had numerous offers over the summer but nothing has been quite right for me, whether that’s contract-wise or the location wasn’t right or something else. I don’t expect people to get it but they aren’t in my shoes and they don’t know what’s going on. Hopefully there will be news coming soon.”
