mkdons.com recaps last week’s worth of news regarding the Sky Bet Championship and its clubs...
Monday 18th
Burnley’s Reid retires
Burnley midfielder Steven Reid has announced that he will retire at the end of the current season.
The 34-year-old made seven appearances for the Clarets in 2014/15, after moving from West Brom last July.
The former Republic of Ireland international's previous clubs also include Blackburn, Queens Park Rangers and Millwall. He also earned 23 caps for ROI and was a member of their squad for the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
Brentford appoint director duo
Brentford, fresh from their play-off heartache, have appointed Rasmus Ankersen and Phil Giles as co-directors of football.
The duo will be responsible for the recruitment of new players and staff, and will oversee the process of appointing a new head coach, with current boss Mark Warburton set to leave the London club.
Sunday 17th
Stopper McCarey suspended
Wolves goalkeeper Aaron McCarey has been suspended by his club after he failed an out-of-competition Football Association drugs test.
The 23-year-old Irishman tested positive for a non-performance enhancing drug.
"The club is extremely disappointed and concerned that one of its players has failed a drugs test," said a Wolves statement.
Saturday 16th
Semi-finals complete, sides set for Wembley
The Football League play-off semi finals were concluded on the weekend, including the ones which will affect the Dons next season.
In the Championship, Middlesbrough booked their place in the final with a 5-1 aggregate win over Brentford. They will be joined at Wembley by Norwich City (pictured), who beat East Anglian-rivals Ipswich Town 4-2 over two legs. The final takes place on Monday 25th May.
Meanwhile, in League One, Preston North End and Swindon Town will compete for the right to join the Dons in English football’s second tier after winning their respective semi finals.
The Lilywhites overcame Chesterfield 4-0 on aggregate whereas Swindon saw off Sheffield United 7-6. The decider takes place, also at Wembley, on Sunday 24th May.
Friday 15th
Bolton keep four players, release 13
Bolton Wanderers have offered new contracts to four of their players but have let go 13 members of their 2014/15 squad.
Jermaine Beckford, Matt Mills, Craig Davies, Andrew Lonergan and Keith Andrews, who was on loan at the Dons this past season, will all leave the club along with youngsters Chris Lester, Georg Iliev, Luke Woodland, Glenn Matthews, Ryan Sellers, James Ball, Carl Kennedy and Kieran Nolan.
Darren Pratley, Adam Bogdan and veteran strikers Eidur Gudjohnsen and Emile Heskey are in talks over new deals, while defender Quade Taylor has agreed a new deal.
Spector signs new Birmingham deal
Birmingham City defender Jonathan Spector has agreed a new two-year contract.
The 29-year-old has made 127 appearances since arriving from West Ham in August 2011 but spent the majority of the 2014/15 season sidelined through injury.
The Blues have also signed up goalkeeper Nick Townsend on a two-year deal, with the option of an extra year.
Townsend, 20, has yet to make his Blues debut, but he did spent the first three months of last season on loan at Conference side Lincoln City.
Thursday 14th
Championship clash won’t be replayed
At its meeting in London last Thursday, the Board of Directors of The Football League decided that the fixture between Blackpool and Huddersfield Town, which was abandoned in the 48th minute, will officially be recorded as a 0-0 draw – the scoreline at the time the game was stopped.
In addition, the Board agreed to charge Blackpool with failing to fulfil a fixture and the matter will be heard by a Football Disciplinary Commission in due course.
Wednesday 13th
Brighton keep hold of duo
Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Casper Ankergren and defender Inigo Calderon have signed new one-year deals to remain at the Amex Stadium until summer 2016.
Danish stopper Ankergren only made one appearance this season but Spanish right-back Calderon scored four goals in 41 games.
Burnley’s Reid retires
Burnley midfielder Steven Reid has announced that he will retire at the end of the current season.
The 34-year-old made seven appearances for the Clarets in 2014/15, after moving from West Brom last July.
The former Republic of Ireland international's previous clubs also include Blackburn, Queens Park Rangers and Millwall. He also earned 23 caps for ROI and was a member of their squad for the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
Brentford appoint director duo
Brentford, fresh from their play-off heartache, have appointed Rasmus Ankersen and Phil Giles as co-directors of football.
The duo will be responsible for the recruitment of new players and staff, and will oversee the process of appointing a new head coach, with current boss Mark Warburton set to leave the London club.
Sunday 17th
Stopper McCarey suspended
Wolves goalkeeper Aaron McCarey has been suspended by his club after he failed an out-of-competition Football Association drugs test.
The 23-year-old Irishman tested positive for a non-performance enhancing drug.
"The club is extremely disappointed and concerned that one of its players has failed a drugs test," said a Wolves statement.
Saturday 16th
Semi-finals complete, sides set for Wembley
The Football League play-off semi finals were concluded on the weekend, including the ones which will affect the Dons next season.
In the Championship, Middlesbrough booked their place in the final with a 5-1 aggregate win over Brentford. They will be joined at Wembley by Norwich City (pictured), who beat East Anglian-rivals Ipswich Town 4-2 over two legs. The final takes place on Monday 25th May.
Meanwhile, in League One, Preston North End and Swindon Town will compete for the right to join the Dons in English football’s second tier after winning their respective semi finals.
The Lilywhites overcame Chesterfield 4-0 on aggregate whereas Swindon saw off Sheffield United 7-6. The decider takes place, also at Wembley, on Sunday 24th May.
Friday 15th
Bolton keep four players, release 13
Bolton Wanderers have offered new contracts to four of their players but have let go 13 members of their 2014/15 squad.
Jermaine Beckford, Matt Mills, Craig Davies, Andrew Lonergan and Keith Andrews, who was on loan at the Dons this past season, will all leave the club along with youngsters Chris Lester, Georg Iliev, Luke Woodland, Glenn Matthews, Ryan Sellers, James Ball, Carl Kennedy and Kieran Nolan.
Darren Pratley, Adam Bogdan and veteran strikers Eidur Gudjohnsen and Emile Heskey are in talks over new deals, while defender Quade Taylor has agreed a new deal.
Spector signs new Birmingham deal
Birmingham City defender Jonathan Spector has agreed a new two-year contract.
The 29-year-old has made 127 appearances since arriving from West Ham in August 2011 but spent the majority of the 2014/15 season sidelined through injury.
The Blues have also signed up goalkeeper Nick Townsend on a two-year deal, with the option of an extra year.
Townsend, 20, has yet to make his Blues debut, but he did spent the first three months of last season on loan at Conference side Lincoln City.
Thursday 14th
Championship clash won’t be replayed
At its meeting in London last Thursday, the Board of Directors of The Football League decided that the fixture between Blackpool and Huddersfield Town, which was abandoned in the 48th minute, will officially be recorded as a 0-0 draw – the scoreline at the time the game was stopped.
In addition, the Board agreed to charge Blackpool with failing to fulfil a fixture and the matter will be heard by a Football Disciplinary Commission in due course.
Wednesday 13th
Brighton keep hold of duo
Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Casper Ankergren and defender Inigo Calderon have signed new one-year deals to remain at the Amex Stadium until summer 2016.
Danish stopper Ankergren only made one appearance this season but Spanish right-back Calderon scored four goals in 41 games.
