[themaclad]

Salford City have released defenders Ashley Eastham and Jason Lowe.

Club captain Eastham, 32, joined the Ammies from Fleetwood in January 2020 but did not feature after November this season because of injury.

Lowe, 31, made 116 league appearances in three seasons with the League Two side.

The club are in discussions with Ibou Touray, Ryan Watson, Matty Lund, Conor McAleny, Joel Torrance and Liam Shephard over new deals.

Veteran defender Adrian Mariappa, 36, has also been released after joining on a short-term deal in March and making nine appearances.

Neil Wood's men finished seventh in the fourth tier but were beaten on penalties by Stockport in their play-off semi-final.

[themaclad]

Salford City have signed goalkeeper Alex Cairns from Fleetwood Town on a two-year deal after a loan spell with the club last season.

Cairns, 30, made 26 appearances for the Ammies in the 2022-23 season and helped them reach the League Two play-offs.

He joins following his release by Fleetwood earlier this summer, having made 240 appearances for the club.

"We had some special times last year and I thought if they wanted me it would be an option," Cairns said.

"I came here with the ambition to get the club at minimum into the play-offs. We did that but I was desperate for the promotion myself individually.

"We didn't quite do it this year but with the group that we've got going into the season, that's what sold it."

[themaclad]

alford City midfielder Ryan Watson has signed a new two-year contract to remain with the League Two club.

The 29-year-old joined from Tranmere in January 2022 and has made 65 appearances and scored 11 goals.

Last season Watson played 42 games for the club but his campaign was cut short in February by injury.

"We can build on last season and have another positive season, and hopefully get what we want at the end of it which is promotion," he said.

"The leg feels better, it was really frustrating missing the games at the end of the season and the play-offs. Watching from the sides is never nice, but hopefully when I'm back in pre-season I can help the team where I can.

"I thought the lads were unlucky, but we've got a good core group of players now who have all played in the league. We were very close last year to getting promotion, so I think if we can add a couple and build on it then we can be in with a shout."

[themaclad]

Salford City defender Liam Shephard has signed a new two-year deal to remain with the League Two club until the end of the 2024-25 season.

The 28-year-old has made 49 appearances for the Ammies since joining from Newport County in the summer of 2021.

"What sold it for me is the style of football, the family feeling we had last season," Shephard said.

"We had a good group of boys and were just short, but we've kept a good core and can go one better this season."

Neil Wood's Salford finished seventh last season and were beaten by Stockport in the play-off semi-finals.

[themaclad]

Salford City have signed ex-Everton left-back Luke Garbutt on a two-year deal after his release by Blackpool.

The 30-year-old played 65 times for Blackpool, helping them up from League One before relegation last season.

Garbutt made 12 first-team appearances for Everton, with loan spells at a number of clubs including Ipswich.

Meanwhile, defender Liam Shephard has signed a new two-year deal to remain with League Two Salford until the end of the 2024-25 season.

The 28-year-old has made 49 appearances for the Ammies since joining from Newport County in the summer of 2021.

"What sold it for me is the style of football, the family feeling we had last season," Shephard said.

"We had a good group of boys and were just short, but we've kept a good core and can go one better this season."

Neil Wood's Salford finished seventh last season and were beaten by Stockport in the play-off semi-finals.

[themaclad]

Salford City have signed Colchester player Ossama Ashley for an undisclosed fee.

The 23-year-old has signed a two-year deal at The Peninsula Stadium to become the Ammies' third signing of the summer.

Defensive midfielder Ashley left Colchester after making 28 League Two appearances for them last season.

He will add to goalkeeper Alex Cairns and left-back Luke Garbutt as new arrivals.

Salford reached the play-offs last season before losing to Stockport and Ashley said: "It's a team I've followed closely during last season and a team that stood out in the league.

"Certainly when we played them it was probably the hardest team we played against, and the style of football is attractive, so I'm really happy to be here."

Ashley came through the youth set-up at Fulham and Wimbledon and then spent two years at West Ham without making a first-team appearance.

He added: "I spoke to the gaffer, he proposed the project to me and his plans for next season and how he sees me in that role and that was something that really stood out for me.

"His style of football to really get the ball moving is something that's very attractive and doesn't happen much in this league, so the only way is up and I'm glad I've signed.

"I'm athletic, I love a tackle, I'm a workhorse, and I'm somebody that doesn't stop running. I give my all for the team and I'm trying to do our best to win."

[themaclad]

Salford City midfielder Matty Lund has signed a new one-year deal.

The 32-year-old joined the Ammies from Rochdale in July 2021 and has scored 14 goals in 68 league appearances.

Salford finished seventh in League Two last season before losing to Stockport in the play-off semi-finals.

"Last season was definitely a positive season, although the ending wasn't what we all wanted, but you can see signs of us going in a real positive direction," Lund told the club website.

[themaclad]

Salford City centre-back Adrian Mariappa has signed a new one-year contract to remain with the club for the 2023-24 League Two season.

The 36-year-old initially joined the Ammies on a short-term deal in March and made nine appearances.

During his time with the club, the former Watford and Crystal Palace defender helped Salford reach the fourth-tier play-offs.

He will rejoin the club on his return from international duty with Jamaica.

[themaclad]

League Two side Salford City have signed Wigan Athletic defender Curtis Tilt on a two-year contract.

The 31-year-old had three loan spells with the Latics before joining permanently in January 2022.

"The gaffer said he wants me to come in and be a voice, be a big part of the changing room and help direct us to the targets that we really want to hit," he told the club website.

"I can try and bring some guidance to the younger lads."

Tilt was under contract at Wigan but neither club has mentioned whether a fee has been paid for the centre-back.

[themaclad]

Millwall have loaned goalkeeper Joe Wright to League Two side Salford City until January.

The 22-year-old has been at the Championship club since the age of 13 but is yet to make his senior debut.

Wright tasted first-team football with 14 games on loan to Bath City in National League South last season, as well as a stint at Cray Wanderers.

"It's a great opportunity for me to come to a fairly new club, rising through the ranks," Wright said.

"There's great ambition here, so I'm really looking forward to getting started."