Shrewsbury Town launch an eagerly-anticipated campaign at home to Macclesfield tomorrow with boss Paul Simpson pledging to make them the great entertainers of League Two.
The Town chief has embarked on a summer spending spree unparalleled in the history of the club - and that has inevitably seen expectation levels sky-rocket amongst supporters.
Record £170,000 signing Grant Holt has already been installed as the bookies’ favourite in the race for the golden boot, while several other big name recruits have added a steely line of experience through the spine of his team.
Simpson has steered clear of making any bold predictions of where Shrewsbury will finish - but is determined to repay his chairman Roland Wycherley with a team to make him proud.
“I don’t know what happened with the chairman this summer - whether there was a change in the weather or in the wind direction - but he just came in one day and said he wanted to have a team out there that people wanted to see and he wanted to enjoy his football,” he revealed.
“For me, that’s excellent because when I first took the job that sort of backing wasn’t on the table for me.
“There comes pressure with the fact that I’ve been allowed to bring in eight quality players, but I’d rather have that pressure than be scrapping around at the bottom of the table.
“My aim is to win tomorrow and then to win again on Tuesday (against Carlisle in the Carling Cup).
“I won’t make any bold predictions that gives people a stick to beat me with if we don’t make it.
“But what I would say is that I’m really confident with the squad we’ve got that it will be a really good season.
“I want it to be a good season for everybody, and especially for the chairman who has invested so much in this football club.”
Simpson has been hit by one eve-of-season setback, with midfielder David Hunt suffering a knee ligament strain in training yesterday.
That will sideline him for four to five days, so ruling him out of the opener against the Silkmen.
“It’s a disappointment for David as he’s played the second most minutes of any player during the pre-season games and been involved a lot,” said Simpson.
By Chris Hudson
11 Comments
Please don’t shout (i.e. write in capitals), it’s not polite to do that.
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My prediction: Town will end either 3rd or 4th in the league.
Up the Town, hope to join the home match against Notts County.
Come on Salop !
For the first time in years I feel optomistic about our chances. Well done to the board for backing Simmo to the hilt.
Bring on the Macc !
And well done Simmo - a manager with an ability to be able to attract the very same quality players.
I might come and see you lot myself this season!
well done the fa and league, now we know.
luton town -30 points
rotherham and bournemouth -17 points
come on town, izzy wizzy lets get busy on saturday
inspite of the fa messing up league 2
I hope this does’nt end up like last season but we do seem to be getting a bit carried away!!!
Dreadful last season - forgive me if i don’t open the bubbly just yet
we have just kicked off it is wet and windy, come on you shrews.
absolutely ace, simmo, 3-0 up after 70 minutes, and two thirds of the play. joining us in the top 7 appear to be bradford, vale,dagenham, chesterfield and two others, one of which won’t be jester who may be saved by -30 luton from the bsq
Morecambe to beat shrewsbury Town to promotion this year
Shrewsbury Town always start off well then falter and end up 4 places above the bottom 2
Expect more of the same this year
Shrewsbury are a million miles from where they were last season, can’t see you holding onto our shirt tail to promotion!!
Up the Town!!!