Notts County

Veteran Whitlow agrees wage cut
Notts County defender Mike Whitlow has agreed to take a substantial pay cut to help fund the signings of Stacy Long and Jake Sheridan. Whitlow was one of the club's highest earners but realised a knee injury would restrict his games this campaign. He told the Evening Post: "The club can now bring in Stacy and Jake, players who can give something I cannot. "I have come off my contract, torn it up and gone onto a more realistic one that reflects what I am doing."

Watford 3-1 Notts County
Watford cruised into the second round of the Carling Cup with a routine win over League Two side Notts County. Ashley Young headed the Hornets ahead and Hameur Bouazza's neatly slotted penalty made it 2-0 after Young was crudely brought down by Julien Baudet. The home side's incisive passing led to a third three minutes after the restart when Young's teasing cross was crashed home by Dominic Blizzard. Chris Palmer pulled one back for the Magpies with an 18-yard drive. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Watford: Chamberlain, Doyley, DeMerit (Chambers 90), Carlisle, Mariappa, Spring, Bangura, Blizzard (Grant 78), McNamee, Bouazza, Young (Campana 68). Subs Not Used: Foster, Stewart. Goals: Young 13, Bouazza 34 pen, Blizzard 48. Notts County: Pilkington, O'Callaghan, Baudet, Wilson, Palmer, Pipe, Edwards, Gill, Long, White (Scoffham 58), Martin (Ullathorne 45). Subs Not Used: Deeney, Gordon, McMahon. Booked: Martin, O'Callaghan. Goals: Palmer 76. Att: 7,011. Ref: G Hegley (Hertfordshire).

Thordarson secures manager award
Notts County boss Gudjon Thordarson has been named manager of the month for August after the Magpies' flying start to the new League Two campaign. Thordarson, who took over as County manager in May, has led his team to the top of the table after six games. They have won four and drawn two of their matches, losing in the Carling Cup to Watford in the meantime. Wycombe's John Gorman, Rochdale's Steve Parkin and David Hodgson of Darlington were also nominated for the award.

Scully unsure over loan extension
Exeter City loanee Tony Scully is not sure whether his spell at the club will be extended. The winger joined the Grecians on loan from Notts County and made a fine full debut against Cambridge on Saturday, scoring one goal and making another. Scully told Sir Stan: "Whether I stay is up to the two clubs. "I've been here just over a week, we got a draw when I played at Dagenham and a win last week against Cambridge, so I'm just enjoying playing."

Richardson makes coaching switch
Veteran defender Ian Richardson is to retire from playing and will take up a job as a coach with Notts County's football in the community scheme. The former Magpies player-boss, 34, was released this month because he had failed to overcome a knee injury. The defender made over 300 appearances for the Magpies following his £60,000 move from Birmingham in January 1996. From last November to May he was the club's manager but his new role will entail coaching in Nottingham schools. Peterborough and Burton were among the sides interested in signing him but, at nearly 35, he has decided to hang up his boots. And the Football League have granted him a testimonial.

Pilkington challenges team-mates
Notts County keeper Kevin Pilkington has challenged his team-mates to take responsibility and bounce back from their humbling at Grimsby. Pilkington told County's website: "We didn't help ourselves with some of the mistakes we made. "But even without those mistakes, we weren't good enough and it was a very disappointing night. "We should have done better but it's a team game, and together we weren't really on the ball."

Scoffham backs Magpies to kick on
Striker Steve Scoffham is convinced that Notts County can end a recent poor run of form that has seen them fail to win any of their last seven matches. The Magpies were flying high after winning four of their first six games but have dropped to mid-table. And Scoffham told Notts' website: "The little things that were going right now aren't and it is a bit of a struggle. "But I am sure we will pull ourselves out of this as we have have the quality in depth within the squad to do it."

Magpies release striker DeBolla
Notts County have released striker Mark DeBolla by mutual consent. DeBolla, 22, initially joined the Magpies on loan from Chesterfield in November but went back to the League One club after a month. His deal was terminated two days after his return to Saltergate and Notts County boss Gudjon Thordardson moved in and offered him non-contract terms. However, DeBolla has failed to score in his eight appearances since being given a deal and has now left Meadow Lane

Notts striker extends Lambs loan
Notts County striker Matthew Williams is to stay on loan at Tamworth until the end of April. Williams has had his loan spell extended after scoring five times in his first seven games for the Conference strugglers. The 23-year-old was placed on the transfer-list at Meadow Lane earlier this season. Williams has scored just once for County since joining the club from Manchester United in March 2004. He has made just two first-team appearances this season.

White back at Magpies after loan
Striker Andy White has returned to Notts County following a month's loan with Kidderminster Harriers. Harriers boss Mark Yates had been keen to extend White's temporary deal, which expired after Saturday's goalless draw at Forest Green. But White, 24, is now back with County and is expected to play in a friendly for the League Two side on Tuesday. He has scored twice in 21 League appearances for County since signing for the club last summer.

Preston bring in Wilson on loan
Preston have signed central defender Kelvin Wilson on loan from Notts County until the end of the season. Wilson, 20, has been linked with moves to the Premiership this season but has been snapped up by North End with a view to making the deal permanent. Boss Billy Davies told the club website: "He's another very good young player with good potential and he gives us excellent options for the defence. "We've known about him for a while and all the reports have been positive."

Bristol Rovers 1-2 Notts County
Notts County beat Bristol Rovers with a 73rd-minute winner from substitute Steve Scoffham. The visitors took a fifth-minute lead when Dan Chillingworth's looping header left Rovers goalkeeper Steve Book stranded off his line. Lewis Haldane equalised with a superb strike from just inside the box after 53 minutes. But Scoffham got behind the home defence to finish clinically just seven minutes after being sent on. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bristol Rovers: Book, Bass (Lescott 75), Hinton, Elliott, Carruthers, Campbell, Hunt, Disley (Gibb 83), Igoe, Haldane (Mullings 90), Walker. Subs Not Used: Edwards, Lines. Goals: Haldane 53. Notts County: Pilkington, O'Callaghan, Edwards, Baudet, Ullathorne, Pipe (Sheridan 90), Crooks (Martin 83), Doyle, Palmer, White (Scoffham 66), Chillingworth. Subs Not Used: Marshall, Long. Booked: Doyle, Scoffham. Goals: Chillingworth 5, Scoffham 74. Att: 6,280 Ref: P Melin (Surrey).

Trollope dismayed with finishing
Boss Paul Trollope felt Bristol Rovers did not deserve to lose 2-1 to Notts County, but a lack of quality in the final third was to blame. "At times we had a stranglehold on the match, but we rushed our shooting and were anxious," he said. "Our crossing and finishing lacked quality and we need to work on this because there's no magic wand. "We did get caught at the back twice but I'm not sure Notts County will go away saying they deserved the win."

Notts County v Oxford United
Notts County can call on striker Dan Chillingworth after his loan deal from Rushden & Diamonds was extended until the end of the season. Striker Steve Scoffham is pushing for a starting place and fellow forward Eugene Dadi is also hoping to feature after recovering from a dead leg. Oxford striker Steve Basham (knee) will undergo a late fitness test after limping off against Bristol Rovers. Eric Sabin (hamstring) and Chris Tardiff (arm) remain sidelined.

Disallowed goal annoys Thordarson
Notts County boss Gudjon Thordarson was left frustrated after watching his side share a goalless draw with Oxford. Julian Baudet had the ball in the net for County, but his free-kick was ruled out for an infringement on midfielder Chris Hargreaves. Thordarson said: "The goal from my point of view was a good goal, but you see that so many times in a season. "The law says if a player goes down to try and clear the ball he shouldn't be protected," the County boss added.

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