Local lad Steve Leslie is eyeing a new Shrewsbury Town contract to help ease the pain of his Wembley heartbreak.

The 20-year-old faces the agony of having to sit out next week’s League Two play-off final against Gillingham as he begins a three-match suspension for an extra-time dismissal against Bury on Sunday.

Town had originally planned to appeal the red card, shown for an alleged elbow on Stephen Dawson, but that was shelved.

“It’s very difficult not to be involved with the lads,” said Leslie, a former Sundorne School pupil who lives in Mount Pleasant.

“At the time I thought the red card was debatable but looking back on television later I thought the ref had got it all wrong.

“I’ve had good support. The lads have been telling me to keep my head up and saying it was the wrong decision.

“My family are very disappointed because it would have been nice to see me on the pitch at Wembley, but they have been behind me.

“It’s going to be hard but I will be there and be behind the lads 100 per cent.

“It’s one of those decisions you just have to live with and move on, keep putting it in during training and try and get a new contract.

“Hopefully that will happen and the lads can pull it out of the bag for us and get the club promoted into League One.”

Manager Paul Simpson admitted withdrawing the protest had been a tough decision.

“After discussing it at great length with authorities at the FA and the referees it was decided we didn’t have a prayer of winning the appeal,” said the Town boss.

“From the video evidence I felt there was something, but they told me there wasn’t.

“I take an honest opinion from them because I trust their judgment. They also said it is possibly a frivolous appeal and there might have been a fourth game to come and I didn’t want to take that risk.

“I would have wanted Steve available for his sake and for our sake.

“It’s a horrible decision to have to make but I explained it to Steve and he accepted it.

“I’m sure he’s disappointed and I’m disappointed for him – it must be a horrible feeling.”

By JAMES GARRISON