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Bristol Rovers chairman Nick Higgs says the decision to part with manager Paul Buckle was taken before their loss to Barnet. The five goal loss to Crewe was the final straw for the board, but they held fire - and oddly allowed Buckle to sign two loan players - before finally pulling the trigger as they wanted to see who was available to take over first. Gary Johnson has already expressed an interest although Sean O'Driscoll, currently helping out with Plymouth, is the bookies favourite.
Southend are trialling Ipswich midfielder Shane O'Connor. The 21 year old has spent the last two months on loan at Port Vale but failed to make a first team appearance. Acting Port Vale chairman Mike Lloyd has confirmed there is no money available for Micky Adams to spend. Lloyd now faces a challenge to his leadership with the Supporters Club holding a vote in favour of calling another EGM and mounting a legal challenge to some of the recent antics at the club.
Crawley have won planning permission for a new 2,000 seat stand at their Broadfield Stadium. The stand will bring them up to Football League standards as they currently only have 1,150 seats. Burton are chasing a trio of players to bolster their promotion hopes. Manager Paul Peschisolido hopes to have a right back in on loan this week, and is also chasing a central defender and an attacking midfielder to boost his squad.
Aldershot midfielder Emmanuel Panther has returned to the club as Grimsby cannot afford to extend his loan spell further, however the player has told the press he is not wanted by manager Dean Holdsworth and expects to leave again soon. A Northampton fan has been arrested and bailed accused of racially abusing Shrewsbury defender Jermaine Grandison.
Sean Canham scored for Bath as they beat Newport in the Conference last night. The Romans are still five points short of safety as they battle against relegation. Former Bulls Craig King and Lee Evans have departed Telford by mutual consent. Former Leicester trainee King is expected to sign for a club closer to his Yorkshire home after struggling for games at the New Bucks Head.
Torquay are still trying to extend the loan spell of striker Billy Bodin from Swindon. The youngster scored five times in 17 League games for the Gulls and is currently back training with the Robins. Oxford have released defender Ryan James after an injury hit spell at the club. The 22 year old signed from the Nike Academy side in the summer but spent half his time at the club sidelined with an ankle problem.
Former Bulls defender Kevan Smith claims Darlington chairman Raj Singh ignored an offer of talks to takeover the club by a millionaire friend of his. Smith, who had two short spells at Edgar Street, played over 400 times for the Quakers and won three promotions. Port Vale striker Sean Rigg has told the BBC the club's players are worried about the rumours that the club may enter Administration. Stevenage have confirmed that loan duo Jennison Myrie-Williams and Guy Madjo have returned to the club from Vale Park.
