Shrewsbury Town today smashed their transfer record – and landed another major coup by luring the captain of a Coca-Cola Championship club to Oteley Road.
Striker Grant Holt was unveiled as Shrewsbury’s record signing at a press conference this lunchtime.

And experienced defender Michael Jackson, who has skippered Blackpool for the last two seasons, has become Paul Simpson’s fourth summer signing.

Holt – who also attracted interest from League One sides Oldham and Scunthorpe – has arrived from Forest for a fee of £170,000.

It beats the previous highest transfer fee of £100,000 – paid to Aldershot for John Dungworth in 1979 and to Southampton for Mark Blake 11 years later.

Town will hope they have acquired a proven goalscorer in Holt, 27, who averaged a goal a game in his two seasons at Rochdale and also bagged 18 in his opening season at Nottingham Forest.

Jackson arrives on a free transfer after being released by Blackpool – and Simpson is thrilled to have secured two of his primary summer targets.

“I’m absolutely delighted and added to the other two signings (Paul Murray and Stephen Hindmarch), I think we have made four really good additions,” he said.”Grant and Michael both add experience and strength to what we have got. It’s been a long process but I’m chuffed to bits with the outcome. “My first call to Colin Calderwood (Forest manager) about Grant was put in the middle of May. I heard a little whisper (Robert) Earnshaw was signing for Forest.

“Before it came out I put a call into Colin who said yes, Grant would be available.

“The chairman has agreed to back me – to be paying £170,00 at our level is big money but it shows the intent of the chairman. The fans are backing us with season ticket sales and the chairman wanted to do something which shows his appreciation of that.

“Matt is a free transfer but his signing is just as big. He is a leader, experienced and has been a captain for most of his career.” Jackson, now 34, began his career at Crewe and has spent the last 14 seasons in the north west with Bury, Preston – where he made more than 250 appearance – Tranmere and Blackpool.

He spent two seasons as club captain at Bloomfield Road, the highlight coming when he lifted the League One play-off trophy at Wembley in 2007.