Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton has been given a three-match ground ban for misconduct during the team's defeat by Sheffield Wednesday.

Barton was shown a red card following the 2-1 loss on 18 April.

He admitted that he used abusive, insulting and improper words to a match official in the tunnel and officials' changing room after the game.

The 40-year-old will miss the first three games of Rovers' 2023-24 campaign and has also been fined £3,000.

BBC Radio Bristol understand that Bristol Rovers will be appealing the decision.

Barton was critical of the referees in the aftermath of the match, particularly after John Marquis had a goal ruled out for being offside.

"You rely on the officials to get major decisions right and unfortunately tonight the linesman's had a guess as they do at this level," he told BBC Radio Bristol.

"I was always worried when I seen the referee, every time I get him he does something barmy, that ref, not really putting that on his toes. His official, the linesman, has got one job to do. It's disappointing when they guess, sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn't."

Crewe Alexandra striker Chris Long has signed a new one-year contract at the League Two club.

Long, 28, joined the Alex from Scottish Premiership side Motherwell almost two years ago and was out of contract this summer.

The former Everton player scored 10 goals in 32 league games in Crewe's relegation from League One in 2021-22.

His availability this term has been hampered by injury, with three goals coming from 10 appearances.

The Alex finished the campaign in 13th place in the League Two, 15 points clear of the relegation zone.

Gamball:
Wolves - Everton

Others:
Spurs - Brentford
Forest - Arsenal
Fulham - Crystal Palace
Liverpool - Villa
Stockport - Salford
Carlisle - Bradford
West Ham - Leeds
Bournemouth - Man Utd
Brighton - Southampton

Midfielder Craig Clay is among eight players to leave League Two champions Leyton Orient this summer.

Clay, 31, has made 239 appearances for the O's during his six years with the club, winning two league titles.

Sonny Fish, Anthony Georgiou, Jordan Lyden, Sam Sargeant, Harry Smith, Connor Wood and Matt Young also depart.

Veteran midfielder Darren Pratley, 38, is one of 10 players offered new deals having made 39 league appearances this season as the club won promotion.

"Everyone has been involved and played a part in the end goal. In Sam Sargeant and Craig Clay we have two incredible servants to the club that we will say goodbye to," director of football Martin Ling said.

Goalkeepers Rhys Byrne and Lawrence Vigouroux, defenders Omar Beckles, Jordan Brown, Harrison Sodje, Jayden Sweeney and Dan Happe, and forwards Paul Smyth and Daniel Nkrumah have also all been offered new contracts with the club for their return to League One next season.

https://www.thefa.com/news/2023/may/15/n...n-20231505

Goalkeeper Ben Killip will leave Hartlepool United when his current deal expires, after relegation to the National League this campaign.

The 27-year-old made 150 appearances for Pools, and was part of the side promoted back to the EFL in 2020-21.

Killip follows defender Jamie Sterry in deciding to move on, after the 27-year-old rejected the offer of a new deal.

Sterry made 102 appearances for Pools after moving from Newcastle United in the summer of 2020.

Pools are still in negotiations with Connor Jennings, Nicky Featherstone and Pat Boyes, while Leon Clarke, Peter Hartley, Mohammed Niang, Wes McDonald and Brendan Kiernan have been released.

Midfielder Albie Morgan heads a list of six players to be released by Charlton Athletic this summer.

Morgan, 23, departs The Valley after making more than 150 appearances and scoring nine goals since coming through the club's academy.

Also leaving the Addicks are Macauley Bonne, Sean Clare, Alex Gilbey, Nathan Harness and Ryan Inniss.

But new contracts have been offered to Michael Hector, Aaron Henry and Terell Thomas, with discussions ongoing.

Oxford City 4 St Albans 0
Brackley 0 Kidderminster 2

Heres a thread to debate and talk about the out of contract players and new signings ..Just edited accordingly thanks to SCO 
So it's the championship which I still can't believe! But that's football in a nutshell 
We now have 10million more pound to spend and the power to keep good players and get rid of average ones because let's face it more than half arnt good enough for the championship in contract or out of contract .


Contracts Extended
Bannan
Windass
Palmer
Byers
Gregory
Iorfa

Offered New Contracts
Dele-Bashiru. Gone
Johnson. Signed
Paterson .... Signed a 2 year contract !

Released
Hunt
Stockdale
Adeniran
Brown
Durrant
Galvin
Heneghan possible ?

Loan Ended
James singed
Flint


Feel free to add any players I've missed out and I will update the thread 

Just seen on the news that Rishi Sunak is a Southampton fan and took time out from his job of ruining the country to go watch the team today.

They got relegated.