Striker Grant Holt insists the pressure of being the most expensive signing in the history of Shrewsbury Town will not prove a major burden.Town paid £170,000 to Nottingham Forest for a forward who averaged a goal every two games with Rochdale in his only other spell in the Football League’s bottom tier.
And Holt, who has signed a three year contract, is excited about the challenge ahead.
“You have to feel a bit of extra pressure (with the transfer fee) - but not much,” said the 27-year-old.
“Every time you play football you are under pressure so you get used to it - it doesn’t matter if you are a free transfer, a young lad coming through the ranks or have come for a big fee.
“It’s a three year contract so that indicates how glad I am to be here and it’s a big commitment from both of us.
“You only have to look around here and the foundations are there to move on.”
Holt turned down interest from League One clubs including Oldham and Scunthorpe to move to Oteley Road - but is confident he has made the right decision.
“You want to play at the highest level you can, but sometimes you have to look at what you think will be good,” he added.
“I came here and had a long chat with Paul (Simpson) and the chairman (Roland Wycherley) and saw their plans for the club.
“You have got to be impressed with what they have done.
“They have signed players like Paul Murray and Michael Jackson so they are obviously going somewhere.
“Everyone wants to get promoted. You never know who is going to come good in this League - there is always somebody you don’t expect who will do it.
“But with the players the manager is signing, the club and the manager will be very disappointed if we are not there or thereabouts.”
Carlisle fan Holt also admitted the chance to work with Simpson - who guided the Cumbrians to two promotions - was a major factor in his move.
“Being a Carlisle fan, I remember Paul being in charge up there,” he added.
“He brought us back up from the Conference and got his reward with a good move to Preston.
“He did a great job and his record speaks for himself - he’s proven at this level.
“I was at the (Conference) play-off final as a fan and travelled the country watching games so they were good times and hopefully we can have some more here.”
By James Garrison
10 Comments
grant who????
Tom who????? No idea. Grant Holt yes!!
Tom. Grant who??… with comments like that you just show up your own lack of football knowledge. How about some positive comments. Well done all concerned with a quality signing. Good luck Grant.
Waste of money
They paid £170,000 for him, just a little more than the record set in 1979. Not really that impressive when you consider the relative value - £170,000 30 years ago would probably equate to nearer 1.7 million in todays money. However, town still seem to have paid over the odds for a lack lustre player (like the rest of the signings this season)
Ha ha “Tom” & “What”, bitter, bitter, bitter.
How’s life in the Blue Square with the Shrews rejects? Forever in our shadow. Holt is an excellent signing.
What - A very bitter undermining comment if ever I have heard one. Clearly not a Town supporter. So must be jealous otherwise they would not be that interested to pass a comment.
Great signing if we can get a full season out of him! No doubt the reduced transfer fee Forest accepted takes into account this risk. The gamble isn’t with the quality of the player, it’s with fitness. If things work out in our favour, we are quids in with grant. There is, as ever, an element of risk.
Still, great to see Town looking in the right direction.
Nope, I’m a Liverpool supporter in shrews. Got more respect for blue square teams who played well and finished top of their league than the stfc rabble fighting relegation last season. plenty of parking at Anfield too - not like some stadiums I could mention.
STFC fans have respect for people who support their LOCAL team, Mr What, not glory hunting Premier league fans who support foreign owned clubs.