Boss frustrated by Town criticism

Boss Paul Simpson has insisted that he will not allow the “venom” from some Shrewsbury Town supporters to knock him off-track.

The Town chief has come in for a lot of flak in recent weeks off the back of a series of uninspiring displays.

And his side was roundly booed on Boxing Day, despite Dave Hibbert’s injury-time equaliser rescuing a 2-2 draw at home to Macclesfield.

Promotion zone

They followed that with an impressive 3-1 win at Bradford City on Monday, and went into today’s trip at Chesterfield with Simpson insisting there is still plenty to play for.

“We could be in the play-off places and just four points off the automatic promotion zone, so we’re not a million miles away,” said the Shrewsbury manager.

“I know other sides have games in hand, but you can’t guarantee they will win them so I will take points on the board every time.”I do find the criticism we have been getting frustrating, but it’s part and parcel of the game these days.”Last Saturday was a hard day,” he added. “I had my mum and dad there, and my wife and two eldest sons were in the ground as well, and some of the stuff they heard was like we were going back to the dark ages.”I don’t think it’s necessary to show that kind of venom, and I do wander exactly what some supporters want, because we are in touching distance of the play-off places.”But it’s not something that worries me, and I can assure everyone – including those that boo me – that it doesn’t change the way I go about the job.”Simpson also believes recent developments elsewhere have illustrated once again just what a precarious occupation football management is.”I remember Jim Smith telling me back in my playing days that if you want to be a manager you have to live with the fact that you’re going to get the sack so there’s no point worrying about it,” he added.”That’s the downside to management – and two managers found that out this week, with Alan Irvine going from my old club Preston and Gary Megson.”