Tranmere Rovers have named Andy Crosby as their new permanent manager.

Crosby has been handed the job after successfully keeping Rovers in League Two while having the role on an interim basis.

He led the team to six wins and five draws from his 13 games in charge as Tranmere eventually finished 20th, nine points clear of relegation.

Watford have appointed Paulo Pezzolano as their new head coach.

The Uruguayan replaces Tom Cleverley, who was sacked on 6 May after the Hornets failed to reach the Championship play-offs, finishing in 14th place.

Pezzolano is Watford's 12th head coach since Javi Gracia departed in September 2019 and the ninth since the end of the 2020-21 season.

The 42-year-old has achieved promotion as a head coach in Spain, Brazil and his home country.

"Paulo has a hugely impressive track record working with young players, which is essential when you look at the age profile of our squad," sporting director Gianluca Nani told the Hornets website, external.

"He has had success at virtually every club, including league titles and promotions, but it is his work on the training ground that impressed the most when we undertook our research."

Who is Paulo Pezzolano?
Paulo Pezzolano
Image source,Getty Images
Image caption,
Pezzolano has secured promotion in Uruguay, Brazil and Spain during his managerial career

Pezzolano's 15-year playing career as an attacking midfielder took him across Uruguay, Brazil, Spain and China.

He began his managerial career in his home country with Montevideo City Torque where he won the Segunda Division title in 2017.

In Brazil, he won promotion to Serie A with Cruzeiro before achieving the same feat in Spain, taking Real Valladolid to La Liga.

However, Pezzolano was sacked in November with Valladolid bottom of the table, and the club have subsequently been relegated.

"He has innovative ideas and processes which he transmits passionately to the players," Nani added.

"We believe Paulo is the leader we need as we refocus ahead of the new season. He is fully aware of our ambitions and determination to push for promotion and embraces that challenge.

"The club achieved great success when making similar appointments in Slavisa Jokanovic, Javi Gracia and Xisco Munoz, and we hope our fans welcome Paulo and wish him every success as we try to achieve the owner's clear aim of challenging for a return to the Premier League."

AFC Wimbledon defender Sam Hutchinson has undergone heart surgery after being taken ill following a game earlier this month.

The 35-year-old former Chelsea and Sheffield Wednesday player suffered what the club describes as "heart complications" after the 1-0 win at Grimsby Town on 3 May - where he scored the only goal.

In a statement the Dons say he "had a successful procedure at the end of last week in London and he now has a clear return to play plan in place."

Hutchinson joined the club in December after leaving Reading and made 18 appearances as Wimbledon finished fifth and reached the League Two play-offs.

They won the first leg of their play-off semi-final 1-0 at Notts County and host the return leg this Saturday, 17 May.

"Everyone at Wimbledon extends their best wishes to Sam who is now recovering at home with his family," the statement added.

"Whilst he is recovering, Sam continues to have an impact on the squad and we are hopeful we can end the season positively for Sam.

"The club would like to place on record their sincere thanks for the support and care provided at Queens Medical Centre and City Hospital in Nottingham, as well as Cleveland Hospital in London."

For the 4 of you lucky (in one case very lucky) participants, here are the final fixtures spread over the next 2 weekends.

Gamball:
Nottingham Forest - Chelsea

Others:
West Ham - Nottingham Forest
Brentford - Fulham
Leicester Ipswich
Arsenal - Newcastle
Ipswich - West Ham
Man Utd - Aston Villa
Spurs - Brighton
Wolves - Brentford
Sheff Utd - Sunderland

Our tactic of passing the ball as often as possible without making significant progress proved to be very much to Walsall’s taste. They remained happy throughout judiciously to exert sufficient pressure, to keep us moving the ball to little or no effect, until we either exceeded the limits of our own ability, or they spotted an opportunity to intercept. They were bigger than us, younger than us, mostly faster than us and certainly better organised than us on the day. Our reward never looked likely to be more than nil, whereas their’s would be a function of how much they could disrupt us. Even our enthusiastic support, from a crowd heavy in over-rounded old blokes, unsuitably squeezed into imaginatively or historically sized football blue shirts, couldn’t raise a valid complaint. Individually and collectively the best team won.

Sometimes at football, even at a low level, you go on pitch with the best intentions and you can tell from the first minute that nothing is going to go right.

Performances:-

Boot – 6 – has been exonerated of all blame by a court in The Hague.

Gordon – 4- proved he could successfully locate his goalkeeper with a back pass from anywhere on the pitch, or up Kinder Scout. Succeeded in slowing several cautious attempts we made at forward motion.

McFadzean – 5 - solid to the point of wooden, displayed all the verve of a cigar-store Indian.

Palmer – 5 - offered a master class in the pointless Ray-Wilkins sideways pass as the game itself seemed largely to pass him by (sideways).

Mandeville – 5 – had more than a hand in both goals and his dead-ball radar was inclined to be on the blink. Nevertheless, he was one of the few attempting to prompt something creative.

Fleck – 1 – produced Shape – the blancmange beloved of the British Raj. Occupied space, used it to no effect, an entirely zero-carbon performance.

Metcalfe – 5 – worked, tried to use the ball and push forward, but produced several alarmingly wild passes. Attempted to prompt the team to attack, but once, when pursued by Okagbue, resembled David Attenborough attempting to outrun a cheetah.

Naylor – 6 – appeared to have located the opposition goal but unfortunately failed to pass on the co-ordinates to his colleagues. Tried, but on occasion looked overwhelmed by how badly things were going.

Colclough – 6 – illuminated the game like wonky fairy lights, flickering brightly, but more often off than on. Threatens danger, but also electrocution.

Grigg – 4- lacking service, he looked like a man expecting silver service, unhappily seated in a Transport Café.

Olakigbe – 2 – appeared beset by nerves, twice let the ball roll out of play under his foot, his control and involvement were almost non-existent. Check his dressing-room peg for a Fentanyl leak. Something was very wrong.

Dobra – 6- gave the crowd glimpses of what they wanted to see when sent on as sub’ but produced one awful pass that suggested he was still trying to regain his touch for Friday.

Sparkes – 3 – lacked any, didn’t ignite in his few minutes on pitch.

Duffy – 5 – a good cross and obvious enthusiasm may have won him a start on Friday.

Pepple – 5 – welcome attempt to counter Walsall physically. We desperately need that.

Jacobs – 4 – wore football shorts, didn’t get time for much else.

Cook – 4 – manager – achieved full beetroot early doors and maintained it throughout. Was clearly at a loss to effect any change, regularly turning to his support staff to confirm we hadn’t slid into a parallel universe.

Former Crawley Town assistant manger and interim head coach Louis Storey has been charged by the Football Association with abusing a supporter while making a reference to disability.

The alleged incident happened during the first half of Crawley's 3-1 League One defeat at Blackpool on Saturday, 22 February.

It is being treated as an "aggravated breach" of FA rules, a charge that does not come with a pre-determined sanction if proven.

The case, and any possible punishment, will be dealt with by an independent regulatory commission.

Storey was assistant manager at Crawley under Rob Elliot, who was appointed in October 2024. Both left National League club Gateshead to join the Red Devils.

The 31-year-old then had a brief spell as the club's interim head coach following Elliot's departure in March.

He left the Sussex club when Scott Lindsey, who was unable to prevent Crawley's relegation to League Two, returned to replace Elliot.

Storey has until Tuesday, 13 May to respond to the charge.

A statement from the FA said: "It's alleged the former Crawley Town assistant manager breached FA Rule E3.1 by using abusive and/or insulting words towards a supporter during the first half.

"It's further alleged that this constitutes an "aggravated breach", which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference - whether express or implied - to disability."

Championship

Can't see beyond the Blunts other finalist will be Coventry as Sunderland have zero form at the moment

League 1

Tough to call this one, fancy Charlton impressed when we played them in the cup, Stockport other finalist

League 2

Chesterfield v Notts County a repeat of the epic Conference Final a couple of seasons ago winner Chesterfield basically on the point of having crept unnoticed into the play off spots on the last day of the season

Barnet's plans for their return to League Two next season have continued to take shape after they released their retained list.

The National League champions, who announced manager Dean Brennan's new three-year deal on Saturday, have confirmed experienced Ben Coker will leave the club along with fellow defenders Reece Hall-Johnson and Richard Nartey and midfielder Harry Chapman.

Barnet have taken up options to keep their two top scorers, 18-goal Callum Stead and midfielder Mark Shelton, who netted 12 times, plus midfield pair Anthony Hartigan and Zak Brunt.

New deals have been offered to Idris Kanu, plus defenders Danny Collinge and Adebola Oluwo.

And the club are in talks over fresh terms with goalkeeper Giosue Bellagambi, defender Jordan Cropper and midfielder Billy Clifford.

Defender Joe Kizzi, midfielder Jermaine Francis and attacker Finley Wilkinson are all available for transfer.

Meanwhile, on-loan goalkeeper Owen Evans and forward Dom Telford will return to parent clubs Cheltenham Town and Barrow.

In a message to those leaving after being part of his title-winning squad, manager Brennan said: "I'd like to thank you all for what you have achieved this season. 102 points is an incredible feat and you all played a part in getting there.

"You are all legends of the club and will always be welcome."

Kidderminster Harriers have sacked manager Phil Brown following the club's failure to win promotion back to the National League.

Harriers were beaten in the semi-finals of the play-offs by Chester on Sunday, after defeat on the final day of the regular season at Southport cost them the title.

They had been top of National League North on goal difference, from eventual champions Brackley Town, but their 2-1 loss cost them dear as they finished third.

Harriers chairman Richard Lane said, external missing out on an immediate return to top-level non-league football was "bitterly disappointing" adding "now is the right time to make changes before embarking our future campaign".

Former Hull City, Derby County and Southend boss Brown was brought in to try to save the club's National League status in January 2024 but could not prevent relegation to National North at the end of that season.

Brown's assistant at Aggborough, Neil McDonald, has also left the club.

Lane added that the search for a new manager "is already underway" and hopes to announce Brown's successor "soon".

Bristol Rovers have re-appointed Darrell Clarke as their manager following their relegation to League Two.

Rovers sacked head coach Inigo Calderon on Sunday, less than 24 hours after the end of a disappointing season that ended in a 4-1 thumping at Blackpool.

Clarke, 47, had four years in charge of Rovers between 2014-2018, a stint in which he brought them back into the English Football League (EFL) at the first attempt and then instantly won promotion to League One.

"It is difficult to put into words just how special it feels to come back to Bristol Rovers," Clarke said. "I am beyond proud to return and once again be here at this exceptional club.

"Even though the season just gone was undoubtedly a difficult one, the potential of this club remains incredibly high and, when the chance to return came up, I didn't have any hesitation.

"I am excited to get down to work during the off-season, prepare for the new campaign and step out at The Mem once again in front of the brilliant, passionate Gasheads.

"We will need each and every one of them with us in the season to come and I want to give them a team they can get behind and performances they can be proud of."

After leaving Rovers, Clarke subsequently managed at Walsall, Port Vale, Cheltenham and most recently Barnsley, who he left in March.

While at Vale he also won promotion from League Two via a play-off final win over Mansfield in 2022.

Director of football Ricky Martin said: "I am delighted to welcome Darrell back to Bristol Rovers.

"Following the review of our footballing operation we began our recruitment proceedings, and it quickly became clear to me that Darrell was the right person to take our first team forward. He has been our number one target throughout this process."