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Calderwood was seemingly hot property as far as managerial vacancies were concerned this summer, having also been granted permission by Northampton to speak to Ipswich Town about their vacant position at the helm. Ipswich, as well as Charlton, also being interested in current Colchester boss Phil Parkinson who has guided the U's to the Championship in the last twelve months.
Forest have been without a permanent manager since Gary Megson's departure from the club in February. Joint caretaker-bosses Frank Barlow and Ian McParland did some great work though in turning round the fortunes of the East Midlands giants late in the season which took them to the brink of the League One play-offs. The pair were not interested in taking the job on a full-time basis however and that left the door open for Calderwood to make a return to the club he played for between 2000 and 2001.
In other League One news Swansea, after losing to Barnsley on penalties in the play-off final last Saturday, have released three players. Experienced Spanish midfielder and club captain Roberto Martinez, 32, right-winger Adrian Forbes, 27, and back-up goalkeeper Brian Murphy, 23, the trio to get the chop. Veteran centre-half Kevin Austin, 33, gets an extra year at the club after seeing a clause triggered in his contract which guaranteed him another season if he made more than 25 appearances in the campaign just gone.
Versatile Scunthorpe midfielder Ian Baraclough has agreed on a new one-year contract with the Iron, the ex-Notts County man having made 38 league appearances for the Lincolnshire outfit last season. Welsh international midfielder Arron Davies has signed a two-year contract at Yeovil Town, 21 year-old Davies having made his senior Welsh debut in the 2-1 win over Trinidad and Tobago in Austria last Saturday.
On the other side of the contract wheel two League One players have turned down now contract deals with their clubs. Swindon Town goalkeeper Rhys Evans moving on to Blackpool on July 1st when his existing contract at relegated Swindon expires, 24-year old Evans Evans agreeing a free transfer switch to Bloomfield Road on an initial two-year deal with the Seasiders. Highly-rated former Blackburn midfielder Neil Danns has reportedly rejected the offer of a new contract from promotion-winning Colchester. Danns suprisingly deciding his future lies elsewhere despite the promise of Championship football next season, if the 23-year old did leave Layer Road though the move would go to a tribunal as he is under 24.
Port Vale have completed the signing of Macclesfield midfielder Paul Harsley, Vale boss Martin Foyle signing ex-Scunthorpe man Harsley after losing Michael Cummins on a free transfer to Darlington last week. 28-year old Harsley turning down a new contract with the Silkmen to end his two and a half year stay at the Moss Rose and move on to Vale Park.
Kevin Gall, released by Yeovil recently, is rumoured to be signing for League Two champions Carlisle United tomorrow. The 23-year old ex-Welsh under-21 international is also interesting Bristol Rovers and Darlington, but Gall's agent Wayne Elsey has told SKY Sports that Gall joining the Cumbrians is a done deal, Elsey commenting : "He turned down better offers from Darlington and Bristol Rovers because he was impressed with the place and has high hopes for the future with the League Two champions. It's a good move for Kevin to see if he can resurrect his career at Carlisle. He wasn't given a chance at Yeovil. Hopefully he will get more opportunities, going to a club that won the League Two championship last season."
Brentford are another club, like Northampton, now looking for a new manager after Martin Allen resigned his post as Bees boss late this afternoon. The former West Ham, Portsmouth and QPR midfielder was appointed as manager at Griffin Park in March 2004 but has twice in the last two seasons seen his side fall at the semi-final hurdle in the promotion play-offs. Allen is now believed to be talking to Wirral outfit Tranmere Rovers about becoming their new manager, the vacancy being available after Brian Little's departure from Prenton Park earlier this month.