League One latest: Sheffield United's raid for Peterborough's League One goal machine as Bristol Rovers' Joey Barton lambasts Portsmouth's weekend opponents on brink of relegation

Barton’s blast

Joey Barton has launched a fierce attack on his Bristol Rovers after they were all but condemned to relegation.

The former Fleetwood boss said his players should be ‘embarrassed’ and have gone down with a ‘whimper’, after their 2-0 loss at home to MK Dons left them nine points from safety with three games remaining - and a poor goal difference.

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Barton told BBC Radio Bristol: ‘There's no way I'd have allowed that group to be built, it just wouldn't have happened.

‘I think a few of the players should be embarrassed that we've gone down with a whimper.

‘It's tough from a distance. You think “OK, if we get in and we get the processes right and we come in, albeit a side that's struggling, we can turn it around” and then you get in and you peel the layers of the onion and you realise “God, what have we got ourselves into?”.

‘We've got some hard work to do this summer, but I have said all the time that my commitment to these fans will be that there'll be a team that turns up from the first day of next season that they will be able to get behind and be proud.

‘How many of those in that dressing room will be in this building I'm not sure, but I reckon it'll be single figures, not double figures.

‘There are a few of them in there who are fortunate to be professional footballers. In 12 months time I think there will be a few of them who'll be very, very fortunate to still be in the professional game.’

Blades planning to plunder Posh

Sheffield United are lining up a move for League One’s top scorer Jonson Clarke-Harris, according to reports.

The Blades are planning to make a move for the Peterborough man who’s bagged 30-goals this term after their relegation from the Premier League, according to Football Insider.

The 26-year-old has been a big hit at London Road this season, after taking on the massive task of filling Ivan Toney’s boots following his departure to Brentford.

Judge unsurprised by contract saga

Alan Judge admitted he hasn’t been left surprised by the contract issues which have put paid to his Ipswich Town career.

The midfielder has been told by his club he will not be considered for selection, due to a clause on his contract which would hand him a new deal if he made one more start.

Judge took to Twitter to give his response and said: ‘Now that I've had a few days to think and to just let things settle.

‘With the last year that I've had this is not the way that I wanted to end my time at Ipswich Town, but this is football.

‘In all honesty, nothing surprises me anymore in this industry.

‘I was made aware of my contract situation on Thursday morning that if I played one more game from the start my contract would be extended.

We both came to the agreement there was no point in risking our positions from both side's perspective.

‘Me and my family have built up a great life here and met some lovely people at Ipswich in and out of the club.

‘We have thoroughly enjoyed living in Suffolk. We now await our next adventure, wherever that may take us.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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