Manager Neal Ardley has left National League side Solihull Moors by mutual consent after two seasons in charge.

The Moors finished in mid-table last season after failing to win any of their final eight games, a year after making the play-off final.

Chairman Darryl Eales said Ardley's departure was "amicable".

The 2021-22 campaign saw them achieve the second-highest finish in the club's history, ending up third before losing to Grimsby Town in the play-off final.

A statement on the Moors website said the club were "disappointed" to announce former AFC Wimbledon and Notts County boss Ardley's departure, and Eales said: "It has been a pleasure to work with Neal over the past two seasons.

"He has overseen our continued push as a club to punch above our weight and operate to the highest professional standards.

"He led the club to our best ever season in 2021-22 where we reached the National League promotion final and generally introduced a fast-paced style of play which is attractive on the eye and has been at the forefront of our player development philosophy.

"This is an amicable and respectful parting of the ways, wholly consistent with Neal's values and character, and I wish him every success in the future."

Altrincham's management team of Phil Parkinson and Neil Sorvel have signed new two-year contracts.

The pair have been in charge of the club for six seasons, earning two promotions.

They have also kept the Robins at National League level for the past three seasons.

Manager Parkinson and assistant Sorvel became the first full-time management team in the club's history in 2021.

The pair signed three-year full-time contracts then, and the new deal is aimed at keeping them at Moss Lane until 2025.

"The ambition the club is showing year-on-year made it a really easy decision. I'd like to think we've grown with the club and they've grown with us, and we've taken great strides together," Parkinson told the club website.

The pair joined Alty from Nantwich in 2017 and have since taken the club from the Northern Premier League up two levels to the National League.

Sorvel said: "The previous six seasons have flown by and that suggests it's been an enjoyable time at the football club and it certainly has. I'm more than happy to extend the contract and sign again.'

Alty director of Football Rob Esteva said: "Talks have been ongoing with Phil and Neil since the back end of last season with regards to extending their contracts and I think it is fair to say it has been a formality.

"The board are delighted with the news and we're sure every Alty supporter shares that sentiment.

"Phil and Neil have helped drive this club forward on the pitch since they arrived and their ambitions are equally matched by the board who remain focused on raising our levels off the pitch."

Swansea City have named Barnsley's Michael Duff as their new head coach.

The Championship club had lined up the former Northern Ireland and Burnley defender as a successor to Russell Martin, who has joined Southampton.

Duff, who won the League Two title with Cheltenham in 2021, led Barnsley to the League One play-off final last month.

The 45-year-old has signed a three-year contract with Swansea, who have had to pay compensation to the Tykes for his services.

"Michael has a proven track record of galvanising a group of players into a collective unit, and he has consistently outperformed expectations at his previous clubs," said Swansea chairman Andy Coleman.

"Every conversation I had with him only reinforced the view that he is exactly the type of leader we need here at Swansea City.

"He is a proven winner, both as a player and as a manager, and I'm confident he will bring that mentality here.

"I believe in his ability and his belief in the Swansea way, while he also possesses the capability to adapt within games to drive results.

"This is a results-driven business. Our position in the table matters to all of us and we are focused on supporting Michael with everything he needs to succeed."

The club say an update regarding Duff's coaching staff will follow in due course.

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Duff had two years to run on the deal he signed at Barnsley after moving to Oakwell from Cheltenham in June 2022.

His Barnsley side finished fourth in the third tier in his one season at the helm, but were beaten by Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley after overcoming Bolton in the play-off semi-finals.

A year earlier Duff had led Cheltenham to 15th in League One, the highest finishing position in the Robins' history.

"I've had seven promotions in my career as a player and manager so I know what an environment should look and smell like," Duff told Swansea's website.

"I want to play good football and I know that there is an expectation of that at this football club, but it's about evolving it, moving it and being a bit more on the front foot and a bit more progressive at times.

"It's about getting the balance of all those things because ultimately it's a winning business. You've got to win."

Duff will be at Swansea's training ground on Friday when the squad left behind by Martin reunite for the start of pre-season training, and will get an immediate chance to get to know his new players when they head to Spain for a training camp on Sunday.

"I'm excited to get going and meet the players, because that's when it'll really kick in when you're on the grass and doing your job," he said.

"There were lots of reasons I wanted to come to Swansea; the step up in level, but also the infrastructure that's already at the football club, and speaking to the owners and the ambition they've got for the club it matches my own ambition.

"Hopefully the supporters are as excited as I am. Hopefully we're going to see some really good football which is a little bit more on the front foot."

Swansea had also identified Chris Davies, Brendan Rodgers' long-time assistant boss, as a contender to take over from Martin.

At one stage Davies, who worked with Rodgers at Swansea, had seemed set for a return to south Wales, but he is instead set to join Ange Postecoglou's coaching staff at Tottenham Hotspur.

Plymouth Argyle boss Steven Schumacher was another of the names Swansea considered during their search for Martin's replacement, while the likes of Shaun Maloney and John Eustace were also linked.

Martin was finally appointed Southampton manager on Wednesday having agreed to take charge at the Saints in May, only for a dispute over compensation - which is still to be settled - to hold up his move to the south coast.

The former Scotland defender spent two years at Swansea, finishing 15th in the Championship in 2021-22 and 10th last season.

Sat Aug 5: Plymouth Argyle (a) Amelia
Tue Aug 8: Middlesbrough (h) (EFL Cup 1) theo
Sat Aug 12: Leicester City (h) Snoots
Sat Aug 19: Middlesbrough (a) theo
Sat Aug 26: Norwich City (h) Snoots
Tue Aug 29 (EFL Cup 2)

Sat Sep 2: West Bromwich Albion (a) Amelia
Sat Sep 16: Rotherham United (h) jjamez
Wed Sep 20: Stoke City (h) theo
Mon Sep 25: Coventry City (a) Snoots
Tue Sep 26: (EFL Cup 3)
Sat Sep 30: Ipswich Town (h) Snoots

Tue Oct 3: Birmingham City (a) Snoots
Sat Oct 7: Sheffield Wednesday (a) theo
Sat Oct 21: Queens Park Rangers (h) Amelia
Tue Oct 24: Cardiff City (h) jjamez
Sat Oct 28: Leeds United (a) Snoots
Tue Oct 31: (EFL Cup 4)

Sat Nov 4: Watford (h) theo
Sat Nov 11: Hull City (a) theo
Sat Nov 25: Southampton (h) jjamez
Wed Nov 29: Sunderland (a) Snoots

Sat Dec 2: Swansea City (a) Snoots
Sat Dec 9: Bristol City (h) theo
Tue Dec 12: Preston North End (h) Snoots
Sat Dec 16: Millwall (a) Snoots
Tue Dec 19: (EFL Cup 5)
Sat Dec 23: Norwich City (a) theo
Tue Dec 26: Blackburn Rovers (h) jjamez
Fri Dec 29: Middlesbrough (h) Snoots

Mon Jan 1: Leicester City (a) theo
Sun Jan 7: Manchester City (a) (FA Cup 3) jjamez
Tue Jan 9: (EFL Cup semi 1st leg)
Sat Jan 13: Plymouth Argyle (h) Snoots
Sat Jan 20: Blackburn Rovers (a) Amelia
Tue Jan 23: (EFL Cup semi 2nd leg)
Sat Jan 27: (FA Cup 4) theo
Sun Jan 28: Queens Park Rangers (a) theo

Sat Feb 3: Sheffield Wednesday (h) Snoots
Sat Feb 10: Southampton (a) Snoots
Wed Feb 14: Sunderland (h) jjamez
Sat Feb 17: Hull City (h) theo
Sat Feb 24: Watford (a) Snoots
Sun Feb 25: (EFL Cup Final)
Wed Feb 28: (FA Cup 5)

Sat Mar 2: Leeds United (h) jjamez
Wed Mar 6: Cardiff City (a) jjamez
Sun Mar 10: West Bromwich Albion (h) Amelia
Sat Mar 16: Rotherham United (a) theo
Sat Mar 16: (FA Cup 6)
Fri Mar 29: Coventry City (h) Snoots

Mon Apr 1: Stoke City (a) Snoots
Sat Apr 6: Millwall (h) theo
Tue Apr 9: Preston North End (a) Amelia
Sat Apr 13: Bristol City (a) Snoots
Sat Apr 20: Swansea City (h) jjamez
Sat Apr 20: (FA Cup semi)
Sat Apr 27: Birmingham City (h) theo

Sat May 4: Ipswich Town (a) Snoots
Sat May 25: (FA Cup Final)
Sun May 26: (Championship Play Off Final)

Northampton Town defender Ali Koiki has signed a new two-year deal with the newly promoted League One club.

The 23-year-old has made 72 appearances since arriving in the summer of 2021, with 24 coming last season as the Cobblers finished third in League Two to go up automatically.

Cobblers boss Jon Brady said the former Bristol Rovers left-back has "become an important player" at Sixfields.

"Ali has improved and developed in his time with us," Brady said

"We think there is still more to come from him and under our coaching and our guidance we hope he will continue that progress."

Northampton start their League One campaign at home against fellow promoted side Stevenage on Saturday, 5 August.

Southampton have named Swansea boss Russell Martin as their new manager.

The 37-year-old replaces Ruben Selles who left the club at the end of last season following their relegation from the Premier League.

Martin, who guided the Swans to 10th in the Championship in 2022-23, has signed a three-year deal at St Mary's until 2026.

"My aim is to get this club back where it belongs - in the top flight of English football," Martin said.

"I am ready for this challenge and will give everything to achieve this aim and to give the supporters a team that makes them proud. "I'm thrilled to be here and cannot wait for the work to begin."

It is understood Martin had agreed to become Southampton boss in May but the move was held up by a dispute over compensation to Swansea.

The Swans are hoping to name Barnsley boss Michael Duff as their new manager reports BBC Sport Wales.

"Russell was the stand-out candidate throughout our recruitment process," Southampton chairman Henrik Kraft said.

"We are confident his strong track record, alongside the experienced leadership of our new director of football, Jason Wilcox, will deliver great results."

Southampton finished bottom of the Premier League in May, ending their 11-year stay in the top flight.

They went through three managers last season with Ralph Hasenhuttl's replacement Nathan Jones only lasting 95 days before he was sacked in February.

Spaniard Selles came in later that month but could not haul Saints out of the drop zone.

https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/foo...vers-trip/

August
August 5 - Blackburn (a)
August 12 - Swansea (h)
August 19 - Leeds (a)
August 26 - Middlesbrough (h)

September
2 - Huddersfield (h)
16 - Bristol City (a)
20 - Watford (a)
23 - Millwall (h)
30 - Preston (a)

October
October 3 - Sheffield Wednesday (h)
October 7 - Birmingham (a)
October 21 - Plymouth (h)
October 24 - QPR (h)
October 28 - Coventry (a)

November
November 4 - Hull (h)
November 11 - Southampton (a)
November 25 - Ipswich (h)
November 28 - Cardiff (a)

December
December 2 - Leicester (h)
December 9 - Sunderland (a)
December 12 - Rotherham (a)
December 16 - Stoke (h)
December 23 - Middlesbrough (a)
December 26 - Norwich (h)
December 29 - Leeds (h)

January
January 1 - Swansea (a)
January 13 - Blackburn (h)
January 20 - Norwich (a)
January 27 - Plymouth (a)

February
February 3 - Birmingham (h)
February 10 - Ipswich (a)
February 14 - Cardiff (h)
February 17 - Southampton (h)
February 24 - Hull (a)

March
March 2 - Coventry (h)
March 6 - QPR (a)
March 9 - Huddersfield (a)
March 16 - Bristol City (h)
March 29 - Millwall (a)

April
April 1 - Watford (h)
April 6 - Stoke (a)
April 10 - Rotherham (h)
April 13 - Sunderland (h)
April 20 - Leicester (a)
April 27 - Sheffield Wednesday (a)

May
May 4 - Preston (h)