Darlington are reported to have blocked manager Mark Cooper from joining Grimsby. The Mariners were given permission to to speak to Cooper and assistant Richard Drysdale and offered the pair two year deals. Cooper's current contract runs out in the summer. Bradford interim boss Peter Jackson will be assisted by youth team coach David Wetherall after Jackson failed to land an unnamed candidate to be his no.2.
Swindon have named Paul Hart as their new manager until the end of the season. The 57 year old's last job was to keep Crystal Palace in the Championship last season. Assistant boss Peter Shirtliff has left the club in the wake of Danny Wilson's departure. Wrexham bidder Stephanie Booth says the winning bidder for the club will be announced on Saturday. The Supporters Trust met with the local council and club officials yesterday to further talks on a Trust-led buyout.
Southend are trialling Liverpool teenage winger Jason Banton with a view to a loan move. The 18 year old played for the Reds youth side that hammered Southend's youth team last month. Plymouth's current owners want to sell their Home Park ground and lease it back in a bid to avoid Administration, saying the plan would raise £2million. The suggestion has been shot down by the exisiting board. There are two bidders set to move for the club if it enters Administration.
Port Vale say assistant boss Geoff Horsfield has not been suspended by the club, but offered to stay away to 'make things easier for the club'. The board say they are currently 'open minded' and expect to conclude their investigation by Monday, and will consult lawyers before announcing any decision. Macclesfield and Wycombe have both been charged over the 21 man brawl at the end of their match last weekend.
Northampton chairman Dennis Cardoza says caretaker boss Malcolm Crosby does not expect to stay at the club when the club appoints a new boss, but Cardoza says Crosby will be considered for the job if he improves results. Cheltenham have extended the loan of Blackpool defender Ashley Eastham for a second month.
Southend winger Ryan Hall has been jailed for 20 weeks after pleading guilty to charges of affray and posessing an offensive weapon during a night out in December. Lincoln loan defender Gavin Hoyte won't play again this season after damaging knee ligaments in a game two weeks ago. The Arsenal youngster needs surgery and is likely to be out for six months.
Northampton's sacked boss Ian Sampson has spoken to the LMA about his dismissal: “Given the budget at my disposal at the beginning of the season and our plan for the development of younger players, I thought our mid-table position at the turn of the year was about right." Accrington boss John Coleman says Bradford wanted to speak to him to be their next manager, but Stanley asked for too much compensation.