Weekly League One News Round Up (2nd Feb)

Colchester United’s boss Phil Parkinson has won the January Manager of the Month. Parkinson was given the award after leading his Essex team to four league wins out of four this month that adds to the remarkable record of winning 18 of their last 20 games in all competitions. Also in January Colchester knocked out both Sheffield United and Derby County out of the FA Cup.

Naughty, naughty!

Bradford veteran Dean Windass has received a five match ban following the FA returning a verdict of guilty on a charge of improper conduct. Windass was reported to the FA after abusing the referee in the club car park after the Bantam’s 3-3 draw with Brentford in December and has also incurred a fine of £750.

Brentford have replaced Premiership bound DJ Campbell with Peterborough striker Callum Willock. The former Fulham trainee has scored 22 goals in 54 games for the London Road side and joins Brentford for an undisclosed fee aiming to fill the boots of the departed Campbell, who just over a year ago was plying his trade in the Conference South.

Play off contenders Chesterfield have extended Jamie O’Hara’s loan move from Tottenham until the end of the season. O’Hara has scored one goal in three games for the Spirites but has seen enough to agree on a longer deal. "I chose Chesterfield because I like the manager, the staff, and all the lads have been brilliant in helping me settle in," said O'Hara to Teamtalk. Meanwhile Roy McFarland has added Manchester United striker Colin Heath to his ranks until the end of the season. Heath, born in Chesterfield had been training with the Spirites but agreed a loan deal on deadline day.

Former Rotherham defender, Martin Scott has been suspended from his role as Hartlepool United manager. With rumours rife of a dressing room bust up following a 3-0 defeat to Blackpool, the North-east side issued the following statement on their official website: “Following the incidents in and around the players' dressing room, the club has suspended Martin Scott from his duties.”

Controversy

There is more transfer controversy surround Southend United after the Gillingham chairman, Paul Scally has accused the Essex club of illegally approaching striker Darren Byfield with a view to a move. Scally told BBC Radio Kent: "I am considering a claim against them for illegally approaching our player.” But Southend manager Steve Tilson hotly disputes any wrong doing. “We've been in for Darren a few times, but we have been knocked back. At all times we acted professionally and went through the proper channels. We are shocked at the comments coming out of the Priestfield Stadium.” Tilson told BBC Sport.

Under-fire Nottingham Forest boss, Gary Megson has vowed not to quit after his team slipped to an embarrassing defeat at Milton Keynes that stretched his team’s winless run away from home to five months and saw some of the Forest fans chant for Megson’s dismissal. “"I am not a quitter and have no intention of packing it in. However, I can understand the fans venting their anger on myself. I'm not going to say it's water off a duck's back, though, because it isn't." Megson told BBC Radio Nottingham.

Oldham have signed former England Under 21 goalkeeper Lee Grant on loan until the end of the season. Grant has struggled for opportunities at Pride Park in recent times and has fell well behind Lee Camp in the pecking order. The 23 year old stopper has also been on loan at Burnley this season.

"I won't quit"

Shamed Scunthorpe striker, Steve Torpey, has publicly apologised following his dismissal for fighting in the local derby defeat against Doncaster Rovers last week. "I would like to publicly apologise for my unprofessional behaviour after what I thought was a leg-breaking incident," Torpey told the club's website. Scunthorpe boss Brian Laws will not let the matter be ended at that. “He will be fined heavily and I am certainly going to talk to him about his future conduct at this football club.” Said Laws.