League One victors Portsmouth received a warm welcome at Southsea Common last Sunday, allowing fans to revel in their championship victory once more. While the celebrations unfolded, efforts are underway to gear up for their upcoming Championship campaign, reflecting a forward-thinking approach that is becoming a trend among other teams post the League One season. Here are the most recent updates from across the league.

Barnsley aim to recruit a former Portsmouth defender as their new manager.

Reports suggest that Barnsley are interested in appointing MK Dons manager Mike Williamson as they persist in their quest for a new head coach. The Sun’s Alan Nixon indicates that Barnsley hold high regard for ex-Portsmouth defender Williamson and see him as the ideal candidate to lead the club after parting ways with Neill Collins.

The ex-defender made a transfer from Watford to Fratton Park for a reported £2 million in September 2009 but notably never featured for Portsmouth. He departed for Newcastle in January 2010 amidst Pompey’s escalating financial difficulties.

Williamson embarked on his coaching journey with Gateshead in 2019, guiding the team to the FA Trophy final last year before joining MK Dons in October. The 40-year-old was honored with the EFL League Two Manager of the Month award for December after steering the team to a fourth-place finish in the league. MK Dons are set to face Crawley in the play-offs as they strive for an immediate return to League One.

Following the departure of Collins, Barnsley swiftly appointed Martin Devany as their interim manager after parting ways last Monday. The team managed a 1-1 draw against Northampton on Saturday to secure their spot in the top six. They are now set to clash with Bolton over two legs in pursuit of a place in the League One play-off final.

Williamson is presently the leading candidate with odds of 2/1 to secure the Barnsley managerial position.

Shrewsbury Town have announced their retained list for the 2023/24 season.

As the season draws to a close, clubs are revealing their lists of retained players. While Portsmouth is still in the process of finalizing theirs, Shrewsbury’s Paul Hurst has already made his public. This decision came shortly after Shrewsbury’s 19th-place finish in the season, marked by a 3-1 home loss to Leyton Orient. Hurst described the move as a ‘business decision’ as he bid farewell to eight players from the current squad, which includes Tom Flanagan, Elliott Bennett, and midfielder Tom Bayliss, who was previously linked with Portsmouth.

Hurst further elaborated on the decision, stating: “First and foremost, this is not a personal matter – it is a business decision. At the same time, I have not encountered anyone that I dislike. They have all been good individuals and have not caused any issues at the training ground. My hope is that they can find opportunities elsewhere and continue to progress.

Even if the messages I have conveyed to them over time may not have resonated immediately, I am confident they will eventually understand. I am certain that all of them will secure new clubs, and I can assure you that I will not wish them ill. If they go on to find great success, and people say I made a mistake, then I can live with that.”

Hurst’s comments suggest the decisions were made with the club’s best interests in mind, while maintaining respect and goodwill towards the departing players.