Bristol Rovers close to selling out season tickets as Barnsley eye up Chelsea legend - League One headlines

Bristol Rovers are continuing their preparations for the upcoming 2022/23 League One campaign.

After Port Vale defeated Mansfield Town last Saturday, Rovers are now fully aware of the 23-teams that lay in front of them.

The end-of-season talk was that the Gas aren’t there just to compete and want to make an impact next season.

The early bookmakers’ predictions have placed them in mid-table which would be a respectable finish in their first season back in the third tier.

There is still much to be done though including the futures of some of their out-of-contract players like Antony Evans, Sam Nicholson and Trevor Clarke. The transfer window opens on June 10 and ideally their futures will be sorted before then to avoid playing catch up in the market.

Below are the stories so far in the off season surrounding Rovers and their league rivals for next season.

Season tickets close to coming off sale

A report from Bristol Live says that the club are close to selling out on season tickets if they continue to be sold at their current rate.

Already more than 4,500 season tickets have been sold, which is closing in on the record of 5,056 sold in the 2018/19 season.

There is a maximum on how many season tickets can be sold at the ground to accommodate for other sets of fans.

Rovers’ official capacity was capped at just under 10,000 due to the Safety Advisory Groups but a change in the layout of the Memorial Stadium this season could see more fans come through the turnstiles.

Barnsley consider Chelsea legend for manager’s job

Recently relegated Barnsley are considering former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink for their vacancy in the Oakwell hot seat.

The 50-year-old is in charge of Burton Albion right now and led the Brewers to a 16th-placed finish in what is his second spell.

Hasselbaink isn’t the only manager in work and in the same division that could take over. Cheltenham Town boss Michael Duff is also under consideration.

Duff has been in charge of Cheltenham since 2018 in his first managerial role and won the League Two title back in 2021 before guiding them to their highest ever league finish.

Barnsley have five candidates for the role and are close to beginning the interview stage with the club eyeing an appointment in the next week or so.

"I think we are down to the final five candidates,” said chief executive Khaled El-Ahmad to the Yorkshire Post as he provided an update on their search to replace Poya Asbaghi after a torrid campaign.

“The process has been going on for some time as we wanted to make sure we did our due diligence. We want the person to be in place no later than June 13 or in and around when preseason starts.

"He is a person we have spoken to. I have spoken to Jimmy and we are still speaking to Jimmy and Duff.”

Sheffield Wednesday consider audacious swoop for Rotherham striker

Sheffield Wednesday are to compete with Championship club Cardiff City for Rotherham front man Michael Smith.

Smith is out of contract with the recently promoted Millers and has been a man in demand for his goal scoring form.

An article from sister outlet Sheffield Star says the Owls could make a move for the 30-year-old that scored 19 goals for Rotherham in their promotion winning season.

Despite being at a level below where Rotherham are, Wednesday want to take him from under the noses of their Yorkshire rivals to front a promotion bid after losing in the play-offs.

The forward has been considering his options with a new deal from his current club on the table but there has been interest from Championship and League One clubs.

Bolton Wanderers wait on recently released Preston man

The picture will become clearer for Bolton this week in the fight they may have for the signature of Preston North End winger Tom Barkhuizen.

Barkhuizen wasn’t kept on by the Lilywhites in Ryan Lowe’s major overhaul of the first-team squad and now he is free to discuss with other clubs.

A report from The Bolton News says that the Trotters have pleaded their case for him to sign but could face competition from Rotherham, though they have other options and Wayne Rooney’s Derby County.

The 28-year-old spent the last six seasons in Lancashire and got 38 goals and 21 assists in 209 appearances and would add to Bolton’s already difficult front line.

Newcastle United youngster pens permanent move to Accrington

Accrington Stanley have completed the signing of one of their former loanees Mo Sangare. The 23-year-old had a short spell making just four appearances in the 2020/21 campaign but after a release from the Magpies, he opted to join a club that he knows.

“I couldn’t wait to come back, it’s an opportunity and I took it,” he said as he explained his move to the Crown Ground. “This place was like home when I was first here, it all started here, and it will be good to play in front of the fans.

“Now I can’t wait to get going, it’s not pressure, it’s opportunity. Being here on loan was exciting, I loved every second of it, and now it’s almost like starting from where I left off.”

Fleetwood Town close in on former Bolton midfielder

Scott Brown is putting down his mark since his appointment at Highbury Stadium and is close to securing another new signing. Josh Vela is set to join the club on a free transfer according to freelance journalist Alan Nixon.

The 28-year-old has made over 120 appearances in League One and has also played in the Championship for Bolton Wanderers, again playing over a century of games.

Brown has already brought in Shaun Rooney on a free transfer from Scottish Premiership outfit and 20/21 Scottish Cup winners St Johnstone.

As well as on the pitch, Vela’s former teammate Joe Riley, who had to retire from football due to injury, could be joining as part of the clubs backroom staff.