Shrewsbury Town were today coming to terms with promotion heartbreak – as attention swiftly turned to launching a sustained assault next season.

As the dust settled on Saturday’s last-gasp 1-0 Wembley defeat at the hands of Gillingham, manager Paul Simpson began plotting for the future.

The Town boss was due to inform his out-of-contract players of their fates today, with the likes of Ben Davies, Kelvin Langmead, Chris Humphrey, Steve Leslie and Ben Herd amongst the squad members anxiously waiting news.

“The decisions are already made but we will discuss it all on Monday and deal with it,” said Simpson, in the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s reverse.

Town’s players understandably cut dejected figures as they emerged from the away dressing-room, with a number having to digest a second play-off final defeat in three seasons.

And Simpson admitted his side had failed to fulfil their potential on the big stage.

“I don’t know if it is the right word to say we froze, but we didn’t play to the level we are capable of,” he added.

“In the second half we had half chances but we didn’t take one and, on the day, we came up short. There were three, four or five chances but they passed the ball better than us, created better chances, and we have to take our hat off to them.

“I have got a hell of a lot of pride in the work the players have put in but that’s not something you think about when you have got the feeling we have all got now.

“There’s not really any words you can use to help them in a situation like this.

“It’s a horrible feeling. It’s not the worst feeling they’ll have in their life, but at the moment it feels like it.

“But football is a business that keeps changing and they’ll be back in today and the preparations will start for next season.

“The feeling we’ve got now, you can’t take away – and we have to use it as inspiration.”

Simpson was full of praise for the performance of goalkeeper Luke Daniels, who is now expected to return to his parent club West Bromwich Albion after a season-long loan at the Prostar Stadium.

And the Shrewsbury chief refused to condemn match referee Clive Oliver for incorrectly awarding the corner from which Simeon Jackson headed home the dramatic late winner.

“If we were to go looking at things like that then we’d be clutching at straws, and I’m not prepared to do that,” he added.

“I thought the referee did well over the whole game, and we should still have defended the corner better.”