Neal signs for Shrews

Shrewsbury Town today completed their goalkeeping triumvirate – by signing Chris Neal from Preston.

The 23-year-old, who had a one-month loan spell at Town in 2006, has joined on a three-year-contract for a nominal fee.

The move comes as any lingering chance that former captain Ben Davies would return to the Prostar Stadium ended.

Neal has spent five years at Preston, making just one substitute appearance in the Championship against Ipswich in 2005.

He played six games for Tamworth on loan in 2005, and featured in a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy game for Shrewsbury against Hereford three years ago when brought in by Gary Peters to provide cover to Chris MacKenzie while Ryan Esson was injured.

His arrival leaves Town with three first-team squad goalkeepers, Neal competing for the No 1 shirt alongside Glyn Garner and Andreas Arestidou.

“In terms of age for a goalkeeper, he is quite young and he is young in terms of games,” said manager Paul Simpson.

“I have worked with Chris before and I both think he is a very good goalkeeper.

“He has got all the attributes you need – good size, good distribution – and I think he can continue to develop here.

“He hasn’t played many games but Luke Daniels hadn’t played any games before last season.

“There is a point where you have to give them a chance and I’m prepared to do that with Chris.

“He has been around the Preston squad and sat on the bench in the Championship and he’s ready to push on now.”

Meanwhile, Davies effectively rejected his contract offer yesterday as his three-year stint with Town headed to a close. He is now being heavily-linked with a move to Notts County.

“Ben came in to see me before training,” added Simpson. “He told me he had spoken to a couple of League One clubs and one League Two club.

“The League Two club had made him the biggest offer and if we would match it he said he would stay but we weren’t prepared to do that.

“Ben has done well for the club but we move on.”

By JAMES GARRISON