Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson has signed a new three-year deal with the League One club.

Ex-Preston and Doncaster boss Ferguson, 51, returned to the club in January for his fourth spell in charge.

Posh lost just two of their last 11 games to sneak into the play-offs - but then failed over two legs against Sheffield Wednesday despite winning the semi-final first leg 4-0.

"It was pivotal here that we had a complete refresh," said Ferguson.

"I had a long chat with the chairman [Darragh MacAnthony] and we spoke about the direction I felt the club needed to go in and that was to go younger, to develop players. I felt there were a lot of players that have been here a long time and we needed to freshen the squad up.

"Fortunately he agreed. We are very much aligned on that. I felt the chairman would go with it and he did.

"There is no denying that in the many years that Darragh and I have been together, it has a been a hugely successful period of time.

"We are not going to be shouting things from the rooftops, saying we are going to do this or that. We are very much looking as a club mid to long term. Of course, we want to be competitive. We will look to bring in players to supplement what we have, but it is important to have a bit of a reset."

MacAnthony added: "The owners are absolutely thrilled that the greatest manager of Posh in modern times is part of an exciting new chapter."

If Ferguson sees the contract out, it will take him close to 1,000 matches as a manager, having so far taken charge of 736 games.

Ferguson, who stood down as Posh boss in February 2022, has led the club to promotion four times, as well as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy title in 2014.

THE MATCH

MONDAY 29TH MAY KO 3:00PM

v

LAST MATCH



Of all the teams to come up with a miracle, we would have been bottom of the list, but somehow we beat the Posh 5-1 after extra time and then won the penalty shootout to book ourselves a place in the final against Barnsley. We got off to the perfect start, Johnson was fouled in the box and Smith tucked away the penalty. It was soon 2-0 when Gregory turned in from close range. Both team had chances but the score remained 2-0. Onto the 2nd half and we laid seige to the Posh goal. We were having chances but had to wait until the 71st minute when James poked in from close range. And then in true dramatic fashion Palmer levelled the tie in "Fergie Time" to send us to ET. Posh then took the lead when Gregory headed into his own net. But we didn't give up and Paterson prodded in the equalizer and the game went to penalties. Posh made 3 out of 4 while we scored all five, Jack Hunt with the decisive kick to send us to Wembley  

THE MATCH



So onto the final and The Dingles stand in our way from a return to The Championship. Barnsley did the double over us this season, winning 0-2 at Hillsborough and 4-2 at Oakwell. Barnsley edged out Bolton in there playoff semi final, 2-1 on aggregate. There top scorer is Devante Cole who has 16 goals, but they also have 2 other players in double figures, Norwood with 12 and Phillips with 10. They are managed by Michael Duff who has done a really good job since taking over in June 2022. As for the game, my worry is that DM reverses to type and will play is pragmatic 352 system instead of sticking to the all-out attack approach v Peterborough (yes I know we had to attack but look at the result). Maybe a combination of the two is a possibility, of course injuries might come into play too. I would love us to win of course but I am already preparing for a trip to the likes of Stevenage & Northampton for next season    

ALL TIME H2H

OWLS 37
BARN 25  
DRAWS 17 

CURRENT FORM

OWLS              -                                                                                        

BARNSLEY        -                                                                                         

EFL STOOGES

DOES IT MATTER THERE ALL CORRUPT  

Referee: Tim Robinson
Assistant Referees: Shaun Hudson & Akil Howson
Fourth Official: John Busby
Reserve AR: Mark Russell
VAR: Tony Harrington
AVAR: Dan Robathan

THE TEAM

Dawson
Palmer Flint Ihekwe
Paterson Bannan Vaulks Johnson
Windass
Smith Gregory

SCORE & SCORER (HOME TEAM SCORE FIRST)

3-2 Smith

WEDNESDAYS FIRT GOAL TIME

26

BML LEAGUE

Owlskev 34
Stateside 27
SCO 25
Imre 25
Wash 22
Maddix 19
Peiowl 17

OTHER GAMES OF MILD INTEREST

Everton v AFC Bournemouth
Leeds United v Tottenham Hotspur
Leicester City v West Ham United
Manchester United v Fulham
Southampton v Liverpool

HAHHA

THE MUPPETT LEAGUE




KATE BECKINSALE TRIBUTE PIC

Salford City have released defenders Ashley Eastham and Jason Lowe.

Club captain Eastham, 32, joined the Ammies from Fleetwood in January 2020 but did not feature after November this season because of injury.

Lowe, 31, made 116 league appearances in three seasons with the League Two side.

The club are in discussions with Ibou Touray, Ryan Watson, Matty Lund, Conor McAleny, Joel Torrance and Liam Shephard over new deals.

Veteran defender Adrian Mariappa, 36, has also been released after joining on a short-term deal in March and making nine appearances.

Neil Wood's men finished seventh in the fourth tier but were beaten on penalties by Stockport in their play-off semi-final.

Bradford City have offered a new deal to League Two's top scorer Andy Cook, whose contract expires this summer.

The 32-year-old scored 28 goals as the Bantams finished sixth in the fourth tier before losing to Carlisle in the play-offs.

Defender Liam Ridehalgh, 32, and midfielder Alex Gilliead, 27, have also been offered new deals.

However, veteran midfielder Adam Clayton, 34, and winger Abo Eisa, 27, have been released.

Charlie Wood, Cole Roberts, Jack Wilson, Kian Scales, Oscar Threlkeld and Yann Songo'o will also leave the club when their deals expire at the end of June.

Bolton Wanderers have offered deals to out-of-contract striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and midfielder Josh Sheehan, and triggered a year's extension for defender MJ Williams.

Injury ended the season early for Bodvarsson, 31, after eight goals in 27 games since his move from Millwall.

Sheehan, 28, played 34 games in helping Wanderers to the League One play-offs.

Williams, 27, made his 100th Bolton appearance during the past season with 35 games in total for Ian Evatt's side.

Accruing that number of matches in the season enabled Bolton to exercise their contract extension for the former Liverpool, Rochdale and Blackpool player.

Out-of-contract goalkeeper Joel Dixon, midfielders Kieran Lee and Lloyd Isgrove and forward Elias Kachunga will leave the Trotters on the expiry of their deals.

Blackpool have re-appointed former boss Neil Critchley as head coach following their relegation from the Championship.

The 44-year-old took the Seasiders up to the second tier via the League One play-offs in 2021 before leaving the club in June 2022 to join Steven Gerrard's staff at Aston Villa.

He then had a 12-game stint in charge at QPR this season, winning just once, and was sacked in February.

"It feels special to be back," Critchley told the club website.

"I'm thoroughly looking forward to the task that lies ahead."

Former Republic of Ireland defender Richard Keogh is being released by newly-promoted Ipswich Town, along with three other first-team players.

Keogh, 36, returned to Town last summer, more than 20 years after coming through their academy before spending the bulk of his career with Derby.

Joel Coleman, Matt Penney and Kane Vincent-Young will also be leaving Portman Road when their contracts end.

The club have offered new deals to Sone Aluko and Massimo Luongo.

Teenage midfielder Tawanda Chirewa has been offered fresh terms after the 19-year-old made his first-team debut this season.

Striker Aluko, 34, has scored three goals in 55 appearances since joining on a free transfer from Derby in August 2021.

Australia midfielder Luongo, who is 30, played 15 times in the league after signing during the January transfer window from Middlesbrough.

Keogh played 16 times this season having made the Tractor Boys his fourth club since leaving the Rams in 2019.

Ipswich said Keogh's contribution on and off the field had been "invaluable".

Goalkeeper Coleman leaves without making an appearance after he joined on a short-term deal in November as cover for the injured Nick Hayes and extended his stay in January until the end of the season.

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Penney, who leaves having also failed to play for the first team this season, spent the latter part of the campaign on loan with Charlton.

Full-back Vincent-Young made the majority of his 18 league appearances from the bench this season as Ipswich finished second in League One, clinching automatic promotion to the Championship after four years away from the second tier.

Loanees George Hirst and Tyreece John-Jules have returned to their respective parent clubs - Leicester City and Arsenal.

Versatile Liam McAlinden is staying with Wrexham for their return to the Football League.

The 29-year-old, who was among Phil Parkinson's first signings as manager in 2021, has agreed a new one-year contract extension for 2023-24.

The former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international can play in defence, midfield and attack.

"After the success we had last season, I'd love to be a part of it again going forward," said McAlinden.

"It's been the most enjoyable two years of my career if I'm honest. The club's going in a great direction, and now to be a part of it next year - as we look to go on achieve more on the back of our success last season - is fantastic."

McAlinden has League Two experience, having been part of Morecambe's promotion to League One before joining Wrexham.

"There is a step up in quality, but I think the group is really strong," he said.

"Last season we set records and there is quality in that group. To be part of that again is great, and hopefully we can kick on from where we left off and add further success."

Parkinson said: "He has been a great member of the squad over the last two seasons and we're looking forward to him making an impact again next season."

York City have confirmed Michael Morton will remain in charge for the 2023-24 season.

Morton took over on an interim basis after David Webb was sacked in February and led the Minstermen to National League safety.

Former Middlesbrough and Bradford City full-back Tony McMahon will stay on as Morton's assistant.

"It's a real honour to keep managing the club and keep trying to move it forward," he told the club website.