Hull City have released captain Richard Smallwood.

The 31-year-old midfielder spent two seasons with the Tigers, and led them to promotion from League One in 2020-21.

The Championship club have also confirmed former England midfielder Tom Huddlestone and striker Tom Eaves have not been offered new deals.

Huddlestone, 35, rejoined the club in August while Eaves, 30, signed from Gillingham in July 2019.

The club have taken up one-year options on the contracts of goalkeeper Matt Ingram, defenders Callum Elder and Josh Emmanuel, midfielder George Honeyman and forward Mallik Wilks.

Championship side Reading have appointed former England midfielder Paul Ince as their permanent manager.

The 54-year-old had been in charge on an interim basis since February when Veljko Paunovic left the club.

The former Liverpool, Manchester United and Inter Milan player led the Royals to four wins and three draws in his first 11 games as Reading avoided relegation from the second tier.

Alex Rae, who has been assisting Ince, has also joined permanently.

Reading, who were deducted six points this season for breaching the EFL's financial rules, were five points above the relegation zone when Ince took over.

They ended one place and four points above the bottom three, although their survival was assured with two games left to play.

"Paul and Alex were brought into Bearwood to instil confidence, structure, spirit and determination into a first-team squad which in difficult circumstances had lost its way early in the year. And ultimately, he had to produce almost immediate results," chief executive Dayong Pang told the club website.

"Fourteen points from their first 10 games proved enough to keep the club in the Championship and I am delighted that Paul and Alex have accepted the challenge to take this club forward."

Reading is the sixth different club Ince has taken charge of, having also had spells at the helm at Macclesfield Town, Blackburn Rovers, Notts County, Blackpool and twice at Milton Keynes Dons between 2006 and 2014.

He led Milton Keynes to the EFL Trophy and League Two title in the 2007-08 season before leaving that summer for Blackburn to become the first black British manager in England's top flight, although only three wins in 17 games saw him lose his job in December that year.

As a player he won 53 caps for England, helping the national side reach the semi-finals of Euro 96 before famously inspiring Glenn Hoddle's team to reach the 1998 World Cup finals with a memorable performance in a 0-0 draw against Italy in Rome.

Bowen returns to Reading
Mark Bowen
Mark Bowen could not help AFC Wimbledon avoid relegation from League One this season
Ince's appointment comes as the club has welcomed back former manager Mark Bowen as head of football operations.

The former Wales international, 58, first joined the Royals in 2019 as a technical consultant before becoming sporting director before the 2019-20 season.

In October 2019 he took over the first team with the club bottom of the Championship and led Reading to a mid-table finish but left after Paunovic took over first-team affairs in the summer of 2020.

He had been interim manager at AFC Wimbledon until leaving the role earlier this month.

Bowen will lead Reading's recruitment, sports science, analysis and academy as the club aim to control costs which saw them be placed under a transfer embargo and have points deducted for exceeding spending rules.

"Owner Mr Dai and I recognise the considerable impact an appointment of this nature can make within the structure of the club and, as well as boasting a huge level of experience in football at the highest level, in Mark we have appointed an individual who possesses a very clear, strong understanding of Reading Football Club and the specific challenges we face," Pang added.

"He will provide valuable guidance, a football-driven focus and consistency across our first team and academy age groups, which we are confident will help re-establish an identity across all the pitches at Bearwood Park and develop a footballing culture which will be defined by an aim to ensure our players achieve their maximum potential. I'm very much looking forward to working with Mark once more."

Nick Powell and Mario Vrancic have agreed to extend their deals with Stoke City until the end of next season.

Forward Powell, 28, has made 93 appearances since arriving from Wigan three years ago, and scored 24 goals.

He was restricted to 21 games in the 2021-22 campaign because of a cracked fibula and quad muscle injury.

Bosnia-Herzegovina midfielder Vrancic, 32, was signed last summer after leaving Norwich City and played 35 games this season.

Their contract extensions follow those agreed by the club with Jacob Brown, Jordan Thompson and Phil Jagielka.

Stoke finished 14th in the Championship, 13 points outside the play-offs, following 17 wins from their 46 games.

Defender Travis Johnson is leaving Crewe after the relegated League One club withdrew a contract offer.

The 21-year-old, whose contract expires this summer, was offered a new deal.

However, he has now been released along with Will Jaaskelainen, Chris Porter, Scott Kashket, Luke Murphy, Tyreece Onyeka, Joe Robbins, Nathan Woodthorpe and Sam Booth.

Johnson made 25 appearances this season for the Railwaymen, who finished bottom of League One.

"After recent discussions it has now been made clear that the 21-year-old will be allowed to find a new club," Crewe said.

Connor Wickham and Hiram Boateng are among six players set to leave MK Dons.

Former Crystal Palace striker Wickham, 29, and midfielder Boateng, 26, are being released at the end of their contracts along with Aden Baldwin, Jay Bird, John Freeman and Brandon Mason.

Josh McEachran and David Kasumu, whose contracts also expire this summer, have been offered new deals.

The League One club have taken up options to extend the contracts of Daniel Harvie and Tennai Watson.

Wickham was signed on a short-term deal in January after being released by Preston.

He started just two league matches for the Dons, who were beaten by Wycombe in the play-off semi-finals.

Boateng made 37 appearances this season and 66 in total since being signed in 2019.

Rotherham United have released striker Freddie Ladapo following their promotion back to the Championship.

The 29-year-old handed in a transfer request in January but the club rejected it.

The Millers have also released defenders Jake Cooper, Joe Mattock and Angus McDonald and forwards Jacob Gratton and Mickel Miller.

Defender Michael Ihiekwe, midfielder Jamie Lindsay and striker Michael Smith have all been offered new deals.

"I just want to thank them all for their service," boss Paul Warne told the club website.

"Joe [Mattock] has been here a long, long time and he's been a magnificent pro and servant to this football club.

"It happens all the time, every season, at every club, but it is never any less difficult for me when I have to have those 'goodbye' conversations.

"They all leave with our very best wishes and I would encourage them all to stay in touch with me. They are more than players at this football club and I am grateful for everything that they have done for us both on the pitch as players and off it as people."

Cheltenham Town midfielder Liam Sercombe has signed a new one-year contract with the League One club.

The 32-year-old, who moved to Whaddon Road almost two years ago from Bristol Rovers, has played 88 times for the Robins in all competitions.

The former Exeter City and Oxford United player is approaching 600 career matches and has won promotion to the third tier three times in his career.

He played 46 games in 2021-22 as the Robins finished in 15th place.

Bristol City have completed the signing of Oxford United midfielder Mark Sykes on a three-year contract.

No fee will be involved as the 24-year-old's deal with Oxford had expired, having joined them from Irish Premiership side Glenavon in 2019.

He made 40 appearances for the League One outfit this season as they finished eighth in the table.

In March, Sykes received his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad but is yet to make his debut.

"I've always wanted to play in the Championship and the manager was honest with me - he told me he would give me a chance here at the club so hopefully things keep moving in the right direction," he said.

"I've only been at two clubs so I don't have vast experience at training grounds but from what I can see here it's unbelievable. It's top-class, no complaints."

Sykes played for Northern Ireland under-21s but made the decision to switch allegiances and pursue an international career with the Republic in 2020.

City, who finished 17th in the Championship, previously signed Guernsey FC teenagers Ben Acey and Tim Ap Sion.

Republic of Ireland midfielder Callum O'Dowda has been released by the club after six seasons at Ashton Gate.

Winger O'Dowda moved to the club from Oxford United, like Sykes, back in 2016 and had an injury-hit campaign.

AFC Wimbledon have appointed former Charlton Athletic boss Johnnie Jackson as their new manager.

The 39-year-old left the Addicks earlier this month and steps into the role vacated by interim boss Mark Bowen, who left the club last week.

The Dons have been looking for a permanent boss since Mark Robinson parted company with the club in March.

Wimbledon will play in League Two next season after finishing 23rd in League One, with just six wins from 46 games.

Jackson has agreed a two-year deal with the Dons and will be assisted by his former Charlton coach Terry Skiverton, who also spent 12 years as a coach at Yeovil Town.

"I am extremely familiar with the AFC Wimbledon story and have total respect for what the fans have achieved - especially the marvellous new ground," Jackson told the club website.

"AFC Wimbledon and the Cherry Red Records Stadium don't belong in League Two and I'll be doing everything possible to get us back up again."

Jackson succeeded Nigel Adkins at the Valley last October, initially on an interim basis, before taking the job permanently in December.

His tenure began well, with the Addicks winning six of his first nine games in charge as he led the club from 22nd place to 11th in League One, taking 20 points from a possible 27.

But after Christmas Charlton struggled, winning just three League One games until mid-March, and gaining just one point from seven matches as they dropped to 17th place.

Six wins from his final 10 games saw Charlton end the season in 13th place, 24 points off the play-offs and 19 points above the relegation zone.

"Johnnie had a successful first season as manager at Charlton last season following four years in assistant/caretaker manager roles," interim chairman Mick Buckley said.

"We wanted a young, hungry manager with a point to prove and that, coupled with his demonstrable knowledge of how to get results, gave him the edge over a strong field of candidates."

Wing-back Wes Burns has extended his contract with Ipswich Town until the end of the 2024-25 season.

The Welshman agreed a three-year deal when he moved to Portman Road from Fleetwood Town last summer.

Burns, 27, made 40 appearances during his first season with the League One club, scoring 13 goals.

"He's had a really strong season and has proved to be a constant weapon for us. He has shown fantastic attitude and application," said boss Kieran McKenna.

Ipswich finished 11th in League One, 13 points outside the play-off places, and will spend a fourth season in the third tier of English football next term.

"I believe the club is only going one way, and I want to be a part of that," said Burns, a former Wales Under-21 international.


Ipswich Town forward Kayden Jackson has signed a new two-year contract until the end of the 2023-24 season.

The 28-year-old moved to Portman Road from Accrington in 2018 and has scored 21 goals in 118 appearances.

He is the second player to sign a new deal with the League One club in successive days after Wes Burns.

Jackson's season was ended in March by a hamstring injury but manager Kieran McKenna said he had been impressed by his "attitude and personality".

After beginning his career at Swindon, Jackson had spells with Wrexham and Barnsley before joining Accrington in 2017.

"Because of the injury, the negotiations have been going on for a little while, but I am delighted to have it sorted now," he said.

"In terms of the injury, the rehab is going well. I have a big summer ahead and I am already looking forward to next season."