Sources: Northampton, Tranmere and Leyton Orient race to sign Niall Maher
Northampton Town, Tranmere Rovers, Leyton Orient, Rochdale and Scunthorpe United are chasing Halifax Town captain Niall Maher, Football Insider understands.
The defender, 26, has had an outstanding season to help Halifax into the National League play-offs.
A recruitment source has told Football Insider that ex-Bolton Wanderers player Maher is out of contract next month and his suitors are eyeing a free transfer.
Primarily a centre-back, the defender has shown his versatility by playing at right-back and in a defensive midfield role.
Maher joined Halifax back in 2018 after leaving Telford United on a free transfer.
He has been a mainstay for the Shaymen and received the club captaincy back in August 2021.
A graduate of the Bolton academy, Maher played five times for Wanderers' first team.
He had a loan spell at Blackpool during the second half of the 2014/15 campaign where he made 10 Championship appearances.
The Manchester-born defender joined Bury on a free transfer in 2016 and played in 17 League One games before leaving for Galway United after a season.
His performances this term have caught the eye of talent spotters from several Football League outfits.
He has played 39 times in the National League to help Halifax guarantee a play-off place.
However, Maher has missed the club's last three games through injury.
League Two play-off hopefuls Northampton Town are among those keen on his capture this summer.
Mid-table sides Leyton Orient, Tranmere and Rochdale are also in the hunt, as are bottom-of-the-table Scunthorpe.