[themaclad]

Solihull Moors have appointed former Republic of Ireland international Stephen Ward as director of football.

The ex-Wolves and Burnley defender, 37, arrived a day after manager Neal Ardley left the National League club.

Ward worked in the sixth tier as assistant coach at Brackley Town last season, but was let go when manager Roger Johnson left in April.

Solihull chairman Darryl Eales said a new head coach will be appointed "in the near future".

He cotninued: "Stephen's appointment is part of our programme of continuous improvement and he will oversee all our football activities."

The Moors finished in mid-table last season after failing to win any of their final eight games, a year after making the play-off final.

Ward was capped 50 times by the Republic in a career that started on home soil with Bohemians and finished with Walsall in League Two, having played in the Premier League with Wolves and Burnley.

"I will use the knowledge that I have gained through my 20-year career, playing at the top level to help the club move forward in its aspirations both on and off the pitch," Ward told the Solihull website.

[themaclad]

Midfielder Joe Sbarra is among 10 Solihull Moors players to be released by the National League club.

The 25-year-old returned to action in December after a heart issue over the summer and helped Solihull reach the promotion play-off final at Wembley.

He scored the first of their two equalisers against Bromley but they were eventually beaten on penalties.

A week later Sbarra started against Gateshead in the FA Trophy final, which Solihull also lost on penalties.

Solihull reserved "special thanks" for the midfielder as he was released alongside Richard Stearman, Max Brogan, Jack Myatt, Harry Chesterton, Luke Carsley, Finn Barker, Leo Wood, Taylor Eades, Ashton DeMulder.

Meanwhile, the trio of Mark Beck, Gus Mafuta and Connor Hall have been transfer-listed.

The club is in talks about extending the stays of Callum Maycock, Joss Labadie, Jamey Osborne, Finn Howell, Max Martin, Kian Ryley, Joel Shambrook, Aaron Flahavan, Morgan Owen and Tyler Bruck.

[themaclad]

National League side Solihull Moors have signed midfielder John Bostock on a two-year deal.

The 32-year-old former England youth international was released by League Two side Notts County at the end of last season.

He made 66 appearances in two seasons at Meadow Lane and helped the Magpies to promotion from the National League in 2023.

After starting his career with Crystal Palace, Bostock signed for Tottenham in 2008, but never started a match. He had a number of loan spells at English clubs before joining Royal Antwerp in 2013.

The well-travelled midfielder has also had spells in France, for Lens and Toulouse, and Bursaspor in Turkey, before moving back to England with Doncaster.

"The club have come quite far very quickly and last year they came so close to taking the next step," Bostock told the club website., external

Solihull director of football, Stephen Ward, said: “We are delighted to bring a player of John’s experience and quality to the football club."