Shrewsbury Town manager Paul Simpson is hopeful his summer signing spree isn’t over yet after making Shane Sherriff his fifth close season acquisition.The 25-year-old Australian – who can play at centre back or anywhere down the left side – penned a two-year-deal over the weekend.

Sherriff has spent the last two seasons with Tranmere, where he had a spell at club captain. He first came over to England in 1999 where he spent three years with Leeds.

He failed to break into the first team at Elland Road, but had a loan spell with Simpson at Rochdale.

Sherriff then moved to Denmark to spend three seasons with AGF Aarhus before being snapped up by Ronnie Moore at Tranmere.

“I’m absolutely delighted we have been able to get Shane,” said Simpson.

“He had a two-year contract offer from Tranmere on the table so he has had a lot to think about but he decided to move to us.

“I see him as a centre half but he can also play left back or left midfield which is a real bonus, and he’s a good athlete and youthful.”

The arrival of Sherriff looks set to end Town’s quest to bring in Rotherham defender Graham Coughlan – for the short-term at least.

Decision

“The situation with Graham has been going on for a long, long time,” added Simpson. “The player wanted to come to us but he had things to sort out with Rotherham after they went into administration.

“I had to make a decision and that was to pull out of the deal for now. If anything changes further down the line, you never know.”

Simpson, meanwhile, welcomes his squad back for pre-season training on Thursday and still retains hopes of bolstering his ranks further over the coming days and weeks.

“There are a couple of areas we are still looking at and I’m delighted the chairman (Roland Wycherley) is saying go out and do what you need to,” added Simpson.

“But we are doing it without being totally ridiculous and stupid about things – the people coming in are on the same type of budget as the players at the club.”

The glut of arrivals means departures from last season’s squad are likely.

Speculation continues to link midfielder David Hunt with a move to Brentford – but Simpson insists he has had no contact with his opposite number at the Bees, Andy Scott.

By James Garrison