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New Tranmere boss Ronnie Moore has made his third signing since joining the Prenton Park club, snapping up striker John Mullin from division rivals Rotherham United. The 30-year-old was signed by Moore at Rotherham and opted to rejoin his former manager rather than accept a deal from Blackpool, Mullin joining up a two-year deal after spending five years at Millmoor. Another ex-Rotherham man in goalkeeper Paul Crichton has joined Conference side Cambridge United from Gillingham. The 37-year old glovesman has played for a mammoth 19 clubs in his long career and he joins the U's on a player/coach basis as boss Rob Newman looks to add some experience to his young squad.
Northampton boss John Gorman has also made his first signings at his new club, with Sam Aiston and Andy Holt making the move to Sixfields. 29-year old winger Aiston was released by Tranmere at the end of last season while 28-year old left-back Holt was out-of-contract at Wrexham, both players penning two-year deals with the Cobblers. Meanwhile, David Hunt, Eoin Jess and veteran midfielder Ian Taylor have all agreed new deals to stay at the club, Gorman is also in talks with 40-year old Rob Lee, who played for him at Wycombe, about a player-coach role at Sixfields.
Leaving Northamptonshire though is winger Martin Smith who has dropped down a league to join Darlington and return to his native North-East. 31-year old Smith, who was born in Sunderland, has signed a two-year deal at the 96.6TFM Darlington Arena after successfully completing a medical today. Smith is one of a number of players who have made the drop down from League One to League Two in the last couple of days, the first of those being Richard Butcher who has moved from Oldham to Peterborough. The 25-year old midfielder had a disappointing 12 months with the Latics after joining from Lincoln in the summer of 2005, and has penned a three-year deal at the Posh which reunites him with his old Red Imps boss Keith Alexander.
Isaiah Rankin has also moved down a level, in order to ply his trade with Grimsby next season, the 28-year old becoming new Mariners boss Graham Rodger's first signing. Rankin has agreed a two-year deal at Blundell Park after ending a two-year stint at Brentford and the ex-Arsenal trainee has previously spent three months on loan at Grimsby in the 2003-04 season when he netted four times in 12 games. Relegated Swindon Town have snapped up experienced left-back Jamie Vincent from Yeovil on a one-year deal, subject to Football League approval. Vincent becomes the third signing for new Robins boss Dennis Wise, who has already brought in winger Andy Monkouse and giant striker Fola Onibuje.
Another new manager in MK Dons' Martin Allen has made his first move into the transfer market at his new club, Allen signing defender Jamie Smith from Bristol City. 31-year old Smith previously played under "Mad Dog" at Brentford during a loan spell from the Robins towards the end of last season and has penned a one-year contract at the Buckinghamshire club. Brighton are hoping to tie up French winger Alexandre Frutos to a new deal, despite Frutos having a similar relegation escape clause in his contract to the one that has seen his fellow countryman Sebastian Carole join Leeds United. 24-year old Frutos joined the Seagulls from Ligue Un side Metz in the summer of 2005 and made 28 starts for Albion last season.
New Football League side Accrington Stanley have told Yeovil that they will need to up their £20,000 bid for winger Gary Roberts before they are interested in selling the 22-year old. Roberts scored 13 goals in Accrington's Conference title-winning campaign and earned a call-up to the England non-league squad, Reds chairman Eric Whalley commenting : " If the right offer comes in, we will let the club speak to him. " Staying in the South-West Cheltenham defender Jamie Victory is looking to step up his recovery from a long-standing groin injury, the 30-year old hoping to prove that he deserves a long-term deal with the Robins after only being offered a short-term contract in the summer.
Swansea City duo Alan Tate and Lee Trundle seem to have got off extremely lightly after the pair brandished a flag with anti-Cardiff City obscenities on it after their side's 2-1 win over the Blues at the Welsh capital's Millennium Stadium. Both players had already received police cautions for public order offences and have now also been fined a week's wages, received a one-match ban apiece and warned as to their future conduct by the Football Association of Wales. Trundle in particular seems to have had a fortunate escape as he was also seen wearing a T-shirt with an image of a Swansea player urinating on a Cardiff shirt. The club itself was fined a paltry £2,000 and boss Kenny Jackett said : " We are just happy the matter has been dealt with and is now behind us. It means we can focus on the season ahead with a clean slate. We feel the FAW gave us a fair hearing and we will not be appealing. There was never any malice or intent to offend Cardiff City or their supporters. We've apologised before and we can only apologise again."
In other news, League One has a new representative on the Football League board next season, as Nottingham Forest chief executive Mark Arthur takes on the vacant post. Arthur will hold the role for a period of three years but it is subject to the club's promotion or relegation from the division, Arthur being seen as a good man for the job having been the chief executive at the City Ground for six and a half years now.