Shrewsbury Town

Shrews in no rush for new manager
Shrewsbury Town's managing director Rob Bickerton said the club will not panic in their search for a new manager. The Shrews are now taking applications for the vacant managerial post after Gary Peters left the club by mutual agreement on Monday. Bickerton told SSB: "We don't have a great rush and we're not in panic station mode. We're in considered decision making mode." Coach John McMahon has taken temporary charge until an appointment is made. Bickerton added: "We're not rushing. There's a process to go through which involves collation of interested parties and establishing whether any of those parties are of interest to us. "Then you have to go through an interview process. More often than not there's a couple of interviews at least before you get to the point of attempting to appoint somebody and discussing their terms." Shrewsbury are 16th in League Two as the squad prepares to take on Rotherham on Saturday.

Good vibe at Shrewsbury - McMahon
Shrewsbury caretaker manager John McMahon has revealed that spirits are high at the club following Saturday's 1-1 draw with Rotherham. Ben Davies earned a point for the Shrews after Pablo Mills' opener. McMahon said: "I enjoyed taking the team. You get a vibe and feeling from the lads and there has been a good feeling all week. "The response has been positive. The lads showed great spirit, effort and desire to dig in and get a point."

Lee looks to make Shrews impact
Shrewsbury Town's new loan signing Graeme Lee is hoping to impress enough to earn a full contract. "The club's obviously ambitious and I'm glad to be part of it," he told SSB. "I know it's a young team, but I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do together. "I'm here for a month initially, but hopefully I can impress the manager and we can sit down and talk about the future." Town boss Paul Simpson targetted Lee as soon as he took up the managerial reins last week, but could not prise him from Doncaster straight away. "He's just the sort of player I want - competitive, big in the air, and a captain-type player," he said. Lee is fully fit after an ankle injury problem, and at 29 will be one of the senior players at Shrewsbury. He is Simpson's first signing, and is likely to be followed by one or even two more as the new manager looks to add to his squad before the loan-window closes on Thursday.

Shrews striker Cooke leaves club
Andy Cooke has left Shrewsbury Town by mutual consent after manager Paul Simpson decided not to renew the striker's contract for next season. Simpson told the club's website: "This will allow him to go away and build his fitness up, to try and get himself fixed up for next season." Cooke turned down a move to Notts County in January. He scored the clincher in the Shrews' 2007 play-off semi-final that took the side to Wembley. The striker is the first big name to leave Town since Simpson became manager in March. Simpson said: "He's a good pro and I genuinely think that he has a role that he can play for a club, but I don't see that role being involved in our first team for next season." Cooke joined Shrewsbury from Darlington in 2006. His previous clubs include Burnley, Stoke City and Bradford City.

Simpson disappointed with Shrews
Paul Simpson insists his team let League Two strugglers, Mansfield off the hook in their 3-1 defeat at Field Mill on Saturday. Michael Boulding's hat-trick kept Mansfield's hopes of Football League survival alive despite Marc Pugh giving the Shrews an early lead. Simpson told SSB: "Credit to Mansfield they stuck at it, they were determined and battled. "I learnt a lot more about my players today, most of it disappointing." Simpson said they were simply no good enough: "What I've seen there, over that 90 minutes is probably the reason why we've had to scrap around at the bottom of the table. "We've let Mansfield off the hook, next week we can't afford to do it to Chester." But the Shrews boss was pleased with striker Guy Madjo's performance when he came on as a substitute: " I thought Guy did well when he came on and looked as if he wanted to work hard." Town are 17th in League Two, with two games left to play and six points above the relegation zone.

Shrews prepare for Hart windfall
Former Shrewsbury keeper Joe Hart's call-up to the senior England squad could earn the League Two side £500,000 to spend in the transfer market. The deal that took Hart from Gay Meadow to Manchester City for an initial fee of £600,000 two years ago included an add-on for winning a full England cap. "It's fantastic news for Joe and for the club," Shrews boss Paul Simpson told SSB. "Any extra money coming in that can make this club better is good to have." Simpson is busy chasing possible targets to strengthen the squad for the season ahead, although has pleaded for patience from the fans. Hart, 21, is one of three goalkeepers named in the England squad for friendlies with the United States at Wembley, and then away to Trinidad and Tobago. Before that, he is in Stuart Pearce's England Under-21 squad to face Wales on Thursday. Hart's mother Louise told SSB: "We're really thrilled and proud of him."

Griffiths eyes up Shrews future
Shrewsbury Town's former striking sensation Carl Griffiths has revealed that he applied for the manager's job when Gary Peters was sacked last March. The teenage Griffiths scored in his first two games for the club in 1988, against Manchester City and Leeds. Now a first-time manager at non League Brentwood, he told BBC Radio Shropshire he is aiming higher. "I applied for the job as a bit of a chance. I'm not experienced enough yet. I'd love to come back in the future." Griffiths' early scoring exploits for Shrewsbury prompted a £500,000 move to Manchester City and an international place with the Welsh under-21s. He never quite realised his potential, but still scored goals elsewhere after money moves to the likes of Portsmouth, Peterborough, Leyton Orient and Port Vale. At one stage at Shrewsbury he was being touted by the national press to be Britain's first million-pound teenager. "That affected my play - it was a lot to handle as an 18-year-old," he admitted. "But the Shrewsbury manager Ian McNeil saw what was happening, pulled me out for a couple of games, and shielded me from all the publicity, and that helped me develop." And Griffiths still holds Shrewsbury in great affection. "They were my first club, where I came up through the ranks, and I always follow their scores. "I'd love to be able to go back one day as manager, though Paul Simpson will do a good job for them and I wish him all the best."

Herd hails Shrews manager Simpson
Shrewsbury Town defender Ben Herd believes the League Two leaders are flourishing thanks to Paul Simpson's style of management. The 23-year-old told Radio Shropshire: "I feel fitter, stronger, and more confident than last season. "I have to take my hat off to Gary Peters, as he gave me my first chance in League football. "But Paul Simpson thinks differently, he's a more modern in his approach, and it's more enjoyable under him." More robust training and some strong signings over the summer have seen Shrewsbury win their first three League games without conceding a goal. Herd added: "There's a long way to go but yes - it's a great start."

New Shrews man sets high standard
Shrewsbury Town manager Paul Simpson reckons that new signing Sean Thornton has brought calmness and a footballing brain to his team's midfield. The Irish-born midfielder, signed for the Shrews on a month's loan from Leyton Orient, starred on his debut in Saturday's 7-0 win over Gillingham. And Simpson admits: "He's set a standard for himself now. "I've not been particularly happy with the link between the back four and the strikers and Sean can help us." Simpson also admitted that, having already had plans to strengthen his midfield, he may soon be onto Orient boss Martin Ling to talk about making a deal for 25-year-old Thornton more permanent. "If he carries on like that for the rest of the month," said Simpson, "there'll probably be a phone call into Martin Ling." Shrewsbury's weekend win has lifted them back up the table to fourth in League Two, ahead of Sunday's border derby noon showdown with improving Chester City at the Deva Stadium.

Shrewsbury budget for big future
Shrewsbury Town have outlined a blueprint for success that is geared towards a rise to the Championship. Managing director Rob Bickerton told BBC Radio Shropshire: "We're ambitious, and it's not a one-season ambition, we are determined to take the club on. "The new stadium gives us new financial streams, and we can back Paul Simpson on the player front." Shrewsbury have started the season well and currently lie fourth in League Two. The board splashed out a club record £170,000 to Nottingham Forest for Grant Holt in the summer, and other big-name signings include the likes of Mike Jackson and Richard Walker. They also sanctioned bringing West Brom keeper Luke Daniels on loan to the Prostar Stadium, with a desire to finance an extension to that deal in January. "This club is run and has been run on a sensible footing, and even if we were to miss out on promotion this season, the club's finances are sound," said Bickerton. "There's no way we'd put Shrewsbury Town in financial jeopardy."

Thornton loan spell not renewed
Shrewsbury Town's loan midfielder Sean Thornton has returned to Leyton Orient after Shrews decided he was out of their price range. "He's done well for us for a month, but we can only bring in players we can afford," boss Paul Simpson told Radio Shropshire. The ex-Sunderland man had wanted to stay but his wage demands were the stumbling block. Shrewsbury must now restart paying Marc Pugh who is back from loan at Luton. Town will keep tabs on Thornton in case things change, but the injured Paul Murray could be returning soon. Murray ruptured an Achilles tendon early in the season but rejoined training late last week. "He's doing really well, and we now need to build up his fitness levels," Simpson said.

Murray makes comeback in reserves
Shrewsbury Town midfielder Paul Murray has made his return to competitive action in the midweek reserve team friendly against Crewe Alexandra. Marc Pugh also returned on Tuesday night following his loan spell at Luton, scoring in a 5-1 defeat. Summer signing Murray has not played since scoring the late winner in a 1-0 win over Exeter City back in August. The influential midfielder, 32, has now missed 11 matches since discovering he had ruptured his Achilles tendon.

Walker ready for Holt partnership
Richard Walker has predicted a striking partnership with Grant Holt could help Shrewsbury have a successful season. Walker pulled a hamstring shortly after his summer move from Bristol Rovers, and has only just reclaimed his first-team place. "I think we can have a really good partnership together and get plenty of goals," he told Radio Shropshire. "I feel 100% now, and I'm sure the more games Grant and I play together the better it'll be." He added: "There's nothing worse than being injured as a footballer. It happens to everyone. I've never had an injury that kept me out for more than two or three days before." Going into this weekend's game with Luton, Holt led the Shrewsbury goal chart with 10, with Walker having netted just twice.

Shrews deny approach for Dunfield
Shrewsbury boss Paul Simpson has denied reports that they offered £50,000 for Macclesfield Town midfielder Terry Dunfield - and were turned down. The Silkmen claim they have turned down two bids from an unnamed League Two club for the 26-year-old Canadian. Simpson told Radio Shropshire: "£50,000? That's not true. Dunfield is one of many players I have an interest in but that's all it is at the moment. "We'll see who else takes our eye who can come in to improve our squad." The Silkmen have offered Dunfield a two-year contract extension on improved terms to stay at the Moss Rose. Dunfield joined Macclesfield in July 2007 following a spell out of the game. Meanwhile, Shrewsbury's postponed home game with Chester City, called off because of part of the pitch being frozen last Saturday, will now be played on Tuesday, 17 February (1945 GMT).

Simpson happy to have Holt back
Shrewsbury Town manager Paul Simpson is hoping Grant Holt's return for the trip to Barnet on Tuesday will bring crucial competition for places again. Holt returns from his two-match ban and Simpson told Radio Shropshire: "He's a valuable part of what we want to do. I'm glad he's available again. Town's home win over Darlington was their tenth of the season and Simpson wants away results to now pick up. "If we could have a half-decent away record we'd be up there with Wycombe." Simpson, meanwhile, says he is not expecting to make any signings before their trip to north London.

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