FORMER York City midfielder Nigel Pepper, 32, has signed for Scunthope United.

The Iron manager Brian Laws has snapped him up on a free transfer from Abderdeen, where he had endured a miserable spell.

Pepper left Bootham Crescent in February 1997 for Bradford City, who sold him to the Dons two years later for £300,000.

He didn't settle in Scotland and spent the latter part of last season on loan at Southend playing for his old York boss, Alan Little.

Southend are thought to be interested in signing winger Martin Garrett, who left City last season under a disciplinary cloud and saw out the season at Mansfield.

Former York City favourite Andy McMillan has been given a free transfer by Scottish League club Ayr United.

The defender, who made 421 appearances for the Bootham Crescent club, has been released after just one season at Somerset Park despite Ayr having reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals.