Round Up

Bristol Rovers look set to appoint Torquay boss Paul Buckle according to local press reports. Presumably this will happen once the Gulls have either won, or been knocked out of, the League Two play-off fixtures. They face Shrewsbury at home on Saturday before playing the return fixture the following Friday. Assuming they win the tie, they will then face either Stevenage or Accrington in the final at Old Trafford.

Buckle has been in charge of the south coast outfit since the summer of 2007 and steered them back into the football league in 2009. He has an excellent reputation within the game, although how this move would affect midfielder/club skipper/end-of-season player-manager Stuart Campbell is anyone’s guess. Campbell indicated he wanted the job on a permanent basis, but didn’t fancy making up the numbers in a new look management team. He also has one year left to run on his current playing deal.

Swindon Town are reportedly preparing to announce the name of their new boss next Wednesday with former West Ham striker and ‘referee-pusher’ Paolo Di Canio being strongly linked to the job.

There is a clear-out going on at the Bescott where Walsall manager Dean Smith has told club captain Darren Byfield along with Steve Jones, Paul Marshall, Clayton McDonald, Aaron Lescott, Tom Williams, Jonny Brain, Alex Hickman and Sean Geddes that they are all surplus to requirements. Either they have a bloody good youth team or expect to see a flurry of signings in the coming months.

Down at the Kassam, Oxford boss Chris Wilder is also wielding the axe. Jack Midson, Jimmy Sangare and Mitchell Hanson are all being released. While Ben Purkiss, Simon Clist, Steve Kinniburgh, Matt Green and Sam Deering remain on the transfer list. Steve MacLean and Ryan Doble will return to Plymouth Argyle and Southampton respectively, although Wilder has indicated he’s like to retain MacLean’s services. However, cash strapped Argyle will be looking to get as much as possible from the lad who has impressed a host of other clubs. Reserve keeper Simon Eastwood has also been released from his contract.

Unsurprisingly 19 goal Wes Thomas has decided to leave Cheltenham on a ‘free’ and the hot shot striker is reportedly being linked with Sheffield United, Crystal Palace and Oxford. I wonder why no-one offered him a contract? Maybe the Robins don’t need the money.

Meanwhile at Hereford Jamie Pitman’s cull has started. Richard Rose, Sam Gwynne, Ryan Valentine, Daniel Stratford, Sam Malsom, Adrian Patulea and Aidan Thomas are all on their way while skipper Janos Kovacs and Sean Canham are on the transfer list.

Rumours coming out of Sixfields are linking Northampton boss Gary Johnson with young striker John Akinde who was released by Bristol City this week.Johnson took Akinde to City from non-league Ebbsfleet while in charge of the Robins and so will know all about him.

Finally, Bristol City keeper David James is making noises about still being available for England, although you’d have to think that - even though Ben Foster has decided to quit international football (for the time being) - James is unlikely to get another cap.