The former Reading midfielder only completed a permanent move to Bramall Lane midway through the season, but manager Kevin Blackwell has opted to show him the door after 33 appearances for the Blades.

Glen Little, Henri Camara, Jonathan Fortune, Derek Geary, Justin Haber, Ian Bennett and reserve duo Liban Abdi and Sam Wedgbury are also heading for the exit.

Blackwell told the club`s official website www.sufc.co.uk: ``I would like to thank all of them for what they have given Sheffield United and hope they soon find clubs.

``It is always sad to see long-serving players leave, particularly those who have served us well, but we are rebuilding a squad that we hope will equip us for a promotion challenge and this will give us some leeway towards bringing others in.''

PRESTON chairman Derek Shaw was left ``shocked'' after being hit by a winding-up petition but insists the club will pay off their debts quickly.

The Championship outfit owe £400,000 to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, and the club's shares have been suspended from the Alternative Investment Market.

Yet Shaw is confident North End will soon settle their debt to the taxman.

He told the Lancashire Evening Post: ``At the moment we are having to bounce things off our financial advisors and listen to their advice. We're a bit limited about what we can say as we're a PLC and issues like this are share-sensitive.

``But I've got to admit that it came as shock when we received the winding-up order late on Friday - it was hand-delivered to us.

``We were 20 days late with our payment for April, we accept that. I expect this debt to HMRC to be settled by us quickly - as I said we're talking to our stock market advisers.''

COVENTRY chairman Ray Ranson hopes to appoint a new manager before the end of the month.

Ranson has already spoken to some candidates and will look to finish the process next week with a view to the new man being in charge for the opening of the summer transfer window.

Former Celtic boss Tony Mowbray and current Notts County manager Steve Cotterill remain firm favourites for the position, with Paul Hart also believed to be in the frame following his exploits this season with Portsmouth, QPR and most recently Crystal Palace.

``We will be stepping things up next week and hope to make a decision the week after in time for June 1 when the transfer window opens,'' said Ranson in the Coventry Telegraph.

PETERBOROUGH have signed striker Dave Hibbert on a three-year deal from SHREWSBURY.

Hibbert netted 15 goals for the Shrews this term and was recently offered a new contract by the League Two club.

But the 24-year-old instead decided to move to London Road as Posh boss Gary Johnson completed his first signing of the summer.

Johnson told the club's official website www.theposh.com: ``Dave is a player I have liked for a little while to be honest, he is technically very good and has scored a lot of goals in a side that probably didn't quite reach the expectations they had hoped for.

``Every club likes to have a tall player in the squad, it is like having a club in the golf bag if you like. I am delighted to have him on board and am looking forward to working with him.''

GILLINGHAM chairman Paul Scally has denied reports linking Andy Hessenthaler to the vacant managerial post at the club.

Current Dover boss Hessenthaler is a favourite at the Priestfield having previously played over 300 games for the club as well as spending a spell in charge from June 2000 to November 2004.

It was rumoured that the 44-year-old, who led Dover to successive promotions in his first two seasons in the Athletic hotseat before losing in the Blue Square South play-offs this campaign, was in line to take over from Mark Stimson who was sacked in the wake of the Gills relegation from League One.

But Scally said: ``I don`t know where the story has come from. I decided last week to do nothing, nor speak to anyone, until this week.

``I have received over 40 applications for the job so far and I intend to start looking at them this week.''

Meanwhile, PRESTON issued a brief statement to reassure supporters that they are actively looking for a solution to the winding up petition issued by HMRC last Friday.

The Championship outfit owe £400,000 to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, while the club's shares have been suspended from the Alternative Investment Market.

This comes despite the Lilywhites board borrowing £550,000 from leisure tycoon Trevor Hemmings' investment vehicle, Guild Ventures, to ``meet the cost of players' wages due this month''.

The statement on the club's official website, www.pnefc.com, read: "The board of Preston North End has announced that it is actively looking for a solution to the winding up petition issued by HMRC last Friday. A statement will be issued as soon as any information is available and no further comment will be made in the meantime."