WILL WE WIN THE COMPETITION, OR WILL WE FLOP?

We have won zilch at the top level for so many years, can we do it this time or fail at the final hurdle - semis or final?

Burton Albion goalkeeper Ben Garratt has signed a new two-year contract with the League One club.

The 27-year-old spent the first half of the season as back-up to Kieran O'Hara but became a regular after Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink took charge in January.

Former Crewe keeper Garratt has played 33 times for the Brewers since arriving at the Pirelli Stadium in March 2019.

"When your contract is coming to an end you just want to get that sorted as soon as possible," he said.

Michael Mancienne has signed a new one-year contract with Burton Albion.

The versatile 33-year-old, who can play in defence or midfield, joined on a short-term deal in February and made 17 appearances to help the Brewers avoid relegation from League One.

"I'm buzzing," Mancienne told the club website. "I've really enjoyed my time here and I love the vibe and the family feel.

"It's a real honour and a pleasure to be staying on for another year."

Boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink added: "Michael came in after a few months without football after playing in America for a few years and he did really well.

"He's got that experience you need. He gives us options in defence and midfield and we think he'll only benefit from a full pre-season with us."

Peterborough United defenders Nathan Thompson and Dan Butler have signed new contracts following the club's promotion to the Championship.

Thompson, 30, who can play at right-back or as a centre-back, joined in the summer of 2019 from Portsmouth and has been a regular since.

He made 43 appearances last season and has signed for two more years.

Butler, 26, joined from Newport County in 2019 and made 45 appearances in total last season.

Boss Darren Ferguson praised Thompson, who was out of contract, for his professionalism as he waited to see which division Posh would be playing in.

"He was one that we wanted to get sorted and thankfully we have reached an agreement," Ferguson told the club website.

"He is really enjoying his football. He and his family are settled in the area, so it was a big one for us because you always have more of a worry when a player is out of contract.

"Nathan is a good character, really good in the dressing room, a calm influence and an intelligent boy in terms of saying the right things at the right time.

"His performances have been outstanding, he has been one of our most consistent performers whether that be at right back or in the central areas of our defence."

Peterborough United centre-back Frankie Kent has agreed a new three-year contract at the club.

Kent, 25, was a pivotal member of their automatic promotion-winning side this season in League One.

He missed just one league match all campaign for Darren Ferguson's side.

"It was a very easy decision to make," former Colchester United defender Kent said. "I have loved every minute of my time at the club, getting promotion just topped that off."

Teenage forward Ricky-Jade Jones, 18, who scored in the Posh's win at Doncaster on the final day of the season, has also signed a new four-year deal.

Ryan Law made his first-team debut in the EFL Trophy last season and played in the Carabao Cup win over QPR in August
Plymouth Argyle full-back Ryan Law has signed a new contract.

The 21-year-old, who has been with the club since he was eight, made his English Football League debut last month and has played four times in League One this season.

Law had a loan spell at Torquay earlier this year, playing eight times in the National League, and has also featured for Truro in the Southern League.

The Pilgrims have not disclosed the length of Law's new contract.

Crewe Alexandra striker Chris Porter has signed a new contract.

The 37-year-old, who joined the Alex from Colchester United in May 2017, has put pen to paper on a one-year deal.

Former Bury, Oldham, Motherwell, Derby, Sheffield United, Shrewsbury, Chesterfield and Colchester target man Porter, has scored 48 goals for Crewe.

That is more than at any of his former clubs but he has the chance to now reach a half century for Crewe - and he is also just 11 off 200 career goals.

Porter, who has been the club's top scorer twice during his four seasons at Gresty Road, will embark on his 18th season as a professional footballer.

He will combine his playing role with some coaching duties within the academy.

David Artell's side finished 12th in League One in the 2020-21 season - eight points shy of the play-off places.

Oxford United have offered new deals to out-of-contract trio Anthony Forde, John Mousinho and Josh Ruffels.

Left-back Ruffels was offered a new contract during the season, with one-year options already taken up for Mark Sykes, Alex Gorrin and James Henry.

Forwards Rob Hall and Dylan Asonganyi and centre-back Nico Jones have all been released.

Hall, 27, made nine league appearances this season, with Asonganyi, 20, featuring in one FA Cup tie.

Sunderland have released seven players, including captain Max Power, after they were beaten in the League One play-off semi-finals by Lincoln.

Callum McFadzean, Chris Maguire, Conor McLaughlin, Grant Leadbitter, Josh Scowen and Remi Matthews have also been let go.

The club said that Aiden McGeady, Denver Hume and Luke O'Nien "will be offered new deals".

Meanwhile, they are "in discussions" with striker Charlie Wyke.

Wyke scored 31 goals this season but his contract runs out at the end of June.

The Black Cats have exercised an option to extend defender Oliver Younger's deal by a further year until the end of the 2021-22 season.

It was understood that winger McGeady, 35, waived an agreement in his contract that would have automatically triggered an extension when he started in the second-leg against Lincoln on Saturday.

Joe Pigott will leave AFC Wimbledon when his contract expires this summer after the striker turned down a new deal with the League One club.

The 27-year-old scored 54 goals in 157 appearances for the Dons after joining from Maidstone United in January 2018.

Pigott netted 20 times in the league in 2020-21 to help the south-west London club preserve their third-tier status.

The former Charlton trainee said it had been the "toughest decision" of his career to leave Plough Lane.

"I've decided that I will be looking for a new challenge," he added in a message posted on the club website.

"It's been an absolute privilege to play for this club as it represents exactly what the game is about - the fans.

"To help play a part in stabilising the club in League One has been a pleasure."

Swindon Town have appointed former Colchester United boss John McGreal as their new manager.

The 48-year-old has agreed a two-year deal with the Robins, who were relegated from League One this season.

McGreal has been out of work since parting company with the U's last July following four years as head coach of the League Two outfit.

"I'm absolutely delighted. It's a club I look upon in League Two as a League One club," McGreal said.

McGreal, whose playing career included spells with Tranmere, Ipswich and Burnley, began his coaching career at Colchester's academy in 2009 before taking over as first-team boss in 2016

"It's Swindon Town. That alone makes you want to apply for the job," McGreal added.

"I'm sure there were numerous applicants and I'm happy to get my hands on it.

"There's a lot of work to be done, a lot of players we need to bring in and I'm looking forward to that challenge. Our aim this season to try and get the club back to where it should be."

Swindon director of football Paul Jewel said they wanted someone "hungry" adding McGreal is "the right man to guide us back up to League One".

Bristol Rovers have signed Nick Anderton, Paul Coutts, Sam Finley and Mark Hughes on free transfers.

Carlisle defender Anderton, 25, and Fleetwood midfielder Finley, 28, have agreed two-year deals with the Pirates.

Fleetwood midfielder Coutts, 32, and Accrington Stanley defender Hughes, 34, have been handed one-year contracts at the Memorial Stadium.

Rovers were relegated from League One this season following a five-year spell in the third tier.

"It's nice to get business done early in the window," boss Joey Barton told the club website.

"The four of them are certainly a foundation for a nucleus of a new team, alongside the existing players, as we start to build a platform to help us get promoted next season."

The moves will be completed when the transfer window reopens on 1 July.