Rotherham United have signed Charlton Athletic forward Conor Washington on a two-year deal.

The 30-year-old Northern Ireland international scored 22 goals in 71 league appearances for the Addicks.

"The club set their stall out early in terms of their interest and it's been a club me and my agent have felt would suit me down to the ground," he told the club website.

"I want to be back in the Championship playing week in and week out."

Portsmouth defender Sean Raggett has signed a new two-year contract with the south coast club.

The 28-year-old centre-back was voted player of the season by Pompey fans as the team finished 10th in League One.

Raggett has made 142 appearances and scored 13 goals for the club since moving from Norwich in 2019.

"I'm really pleased. I've been here for three years now and have loved playing for Pompey in that time," he told the club's website.

"I said when I first arrived that my aim was to get this club into the Championship and that's still the case."

Wigan Athletic winger Gavin Massey has been released after five seasons.

The 29-year-old twice helped the Latics win promotion to the Championship after joining from Leyton Orient in July 2017.

Meanwhile, the Latics have exercised the option to extend the contract of Republic of Ireland international James McClean by an extra year.

The 33-year-old wideman joined the club in August and scored nine league goals as they won the League One title.

Tranmere Rovers have signed defender Ben Hockenhull on a two-year deal ahead of the 2022-23 League Two season.

The 20-year-old came through the youth ranks at Manchester United before joining Brentford in summer 2020.

"I've seen in the past how young players have developed and improved so I want to do the same," he said.

"I want to keep building and become better. I'm a ball-playing centre-half and I want to play in front of big crowds which is something I can do."

Newly promoted Forest Green Rovers have appointed Notts County boss Ian Burchnall as their new head coach.

The 39-year-old takes charge of the Gloucestershire club as they move up to League One for the first time.

He replaces Rob Edwards, who led the club to promotion and the League Two title before being appointed Watford manager earlier this month.

Burchnall had been at Notts County since March 2021 and led the team to fifth in the National League this year.

This season was the second successive time he had taken Notts County to the National League play-offs, although they were defeated by Torquay United in the semi-finals last year and by Grimsby Town at the same stage this season.

"I'm really delighted to sign at FGR and be part of what is an exciting chapter in the club's history," Burchnall said.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to come and lead the club and the challenge of football in League One was just too good to turn down, especially at a progressive and forward-thinking club."

Burchnall got his first taste as a manager working in Scandinavia's top tiers, first as assistant manager to former Sheffield United striker Brian Deane at Norwegian side Sarpsborg in 2012.

In 2017 he took over as manager at Viking FC, before replacing Graham Potter as boss of Swedish side Ostersunds FK a year later.

"We're all excited to welcome Ian to the club and look forward to our first season together in League One," said Dale Vince, Forest Green Rovers chairman.

When former Rovers boss Edwards left for relegated Premier League side Watford on 11 May, Vince said negotiations had taken place "behind our backs" - but he praised Notts County for their part in Burchnall's move.

"Big credit to Notts County for the way they handled this - between us we've shown how moves in football can still get done properly and above board."

A statement from the Notts County board said they already have a "ready-made shortlist" of candidates to replace Burchnall and that "negotiations are progressing well".

Personal view, excellent appointment

Barrow have appointed Pete Wild as their new manager on a three-year deal.

Wild, 38, left his position as Halifax boss on Thursday, two days after they were beaten in the National League play-offs by Chesterfield.

He replaces Phil Brown at Holker Street after he was unable to agree a new deal, having kept the Bluebirds in League Two this season.

Since being promoted to the Football League in July 2020, Barrow have now appointed five different managers.

"We are delighted to welcome Pete to Barrow," chairman Paul Hornby told the club website.

"He's a manager who has been on our radar for some time, due to the phenomenal job he's done over the past three years at FC Halifax Town."

Wild took over at the Shay in the summer of 2019 after a spell with Oldham Athletic.

He guided the Latics to a famous FA Cup third-round win over Premier League side Fulham but decided to leave the club at the end of the season for personal reasons.

His three campaigns in charge of West Yorkshire side Halifax saw them finish sixth, 10th and fourth in the fifth tier.

They conceded just 11 goals at home in the whole of the 2021-22 regular season but their hopes of winning promotion to the EFL were ended by a 2-1 home defeat by the Spireites on Tuesday.

Bolton Wanderers captain Ricardo Santos has signed a new three-year contract.

The 26-year-old, who moved to the Trotters from Barnet in August 2020, had a year left on his current deal.

He has made 91 appearances in his two seasons at Bolton - winning promotion from League Two at the end of his first campaign with the club.

"The one thing we're starting to do now is develop assets on the football pitch and Rico is one of those," manager Ian Evatt told the club website.

"There's been lots of interest (in him) but it shows that we mean business, we are doing the right things and can keep our best players. And Rico is definitely one of those.

"The true value of players is how easy they are to replace and, for me, Rico in this team is irreplaceable; the way he defends and his attributes with and without the ball are top class and really important for the way we want to play."

Harrogate Town defender Rory McArdle has signed a one-year contract extension with the League Two club.

The 35-year-old made 26 appearances for Harrogate last season, but missed more than three months through injury.

The former Northern Ireland international joined from Exeter ahead of the 2021-22 campaign.

"The last season was a bit up and down from a personal point of view, so now we've got to take all the positives from last season," McArdle said.

"To miss a large part of the season was frustrating, we'd made a good start. At that point you're just desperate to get back fit as quick as possible and to start having an influence on the squad on and off the pitch.

"Everyone made me feel welcome when I arrived last Summer right from day one of pre-season and that's where our focus is now to be ready to hit the ground running again."

It’s been reported by Percy that John Swift Reading creative midfielder will be signing for Albion on a free transfer.
He’s 26 and scored 11 and made 13 goals for Reading last season. If  or when he signs it’s a great start to the transfer window, which doesn’t open till middle of June


It’s official on website excellent signing.

Sunderland have released veteran winger Aiden McGeady.

The ex-Republic of Ireland man, 36, joined the Black Cats in July 2017 and scored 29 goals in 127 league games.

Goalkeeper Lee Burge, defenders Arbenit Xhemajli and Jordan Willis and striker Will Grigg have also been let go at the end of their contracts.

Defender Bailey Wright, midfielder Lynden Gooch and forward Patrick Roberts have been offered deals after helping the team go up from League One.

Former Wigan player and Northern Ireland international Grigg, 30, cost Sunderland £4m in 2019 but scored just eight goals for the club and spent time out on loan at MK Dons and Rotherham.