The former Torquay skipper has been released with almost two weeks of his one-month contract remaining after being told he would not feature in manager Gary Peters’ long-term plans.

Sharp was signed following a trial period to provide cover on the left side of defence after Gavin Cowan was allowed to join Kidderminster Harriers on loan.

But he has now been allowed to leave to give him a chance to find a new club before the transfer window closes on Thursday next week.

“James was quite a leader for Torquay last year,” said Peters. “He’s a big, strong lad and he’s tough so he was good cover for Richard Hope.

“He was here for a month and we had a good, close look at him but we didn’t think he would be taking Hopey’s place and he didn’t fit into our profile of being 22, athletic, quick and making us a better side.

“I’m sure he’ll go on to do well for someone else in this league though.

“If we released him on the date his contract finished, September 7, he wouldn’t have been able to work until January because of the window so we had to give him an answer sooner rather than later.”

A win or a draw at the Memorial Stadium tomorrow would see Town extend their unbeaten league run to five games.

And you have to go back to the promotion season of 1978/79, when Shrewsbury did not lose until their seventh match, to beat that start.

That looks a realistic possibility, with Rovers having lost three of their four league games so far – though Peters will not be taking anything for granted.

“They’re a good footballing side and they pass the ball well,” he declared.

“They try to play the game in the right way and if they’re playing well they’re a tough team and hard to beat.

“A lot of these good passing teams can try and win games by keeping the ball off the opposition and if they’re having a good day it’s alright but if they’re not they have to be able to battle and get back to basics.

“The first thing in this division is to make sure your side are capable of working hard enough and we certainly are.”

Midfielder Stewart Drummond and striker Andy Cooke are both in the squad after injury lay-offs but Peters believes Glynn Hurst will need a couple more reserve games before he comes into contention, having been out since the end of last season.