Shrewsbury Town boss Paul Simpson today reflected on his retained players.

On Neil Ashton: “Ashy has done well. He has got a great attitude to it.

“But we just came up short over the weekend and we have just come short over the season and, unfortunately, my view is that Ashy is just a bit short of where I want us to be.

“We have got to change it to make it better and stronger and this gives us an opportunity to clear the decks a little bit and really start building a squad that doesn’t have to just go through play-offs and can consistently compete at the top end of the table.”

On Ben Herd: “Football changes all the time. Around November and December I was considering offering Ben a contract and we were talking to an agent about it.

“It didn’t happen because of the terms that were being asked and it turned around after that. Darren Moss went ahead of him in footballing terms and a decision was made by myself to release Ben.

“He has been a good servant to the football club but we have to look to try and improve it.”

On Moses Ashikodi and Nick Chadwick: “We are trying to find that right partnership with Grant Holt. Ashikodi showed a few glimpses but nowhere near enough.

“Chadwick worked his socks off and was tireless in the way he went about it but we have got to look for a better partner for Grant.

“They were both brought in on short term contracts because they fitted the bill of the budget at the time. But now we clear the decks and look to bring better in.”

On Steven Hindmarch: “He is a frustrating one because I still do believe there is a footballer in there but we can’t keep waiting all the time.

“There has been a massive improvement from when he left Carlisle United but, in the end, it was a person who was blocking up the system and I need to look to try and improve it with players who are able to compete at first-team level.”

On Luke Daniels and David Worrall: “I spoke to Tony Mowbray on Sunday and they have gone back to West Brom. They have been pleased with how we have looked after them.

“But we have just said we will talk again over the summer and over pre-season and see whether or not there is a possibility – or a need from us – for them to come back.”

On Jake Simpson: “Jake has been training with the first team every day for about two-and-a-half months and has done well enough to earn a year and now it’s up to him.

“Jake has had two years full-time and two years as a schoolboy at Blackburn Rovers.

“He’s done well enough over the time he has been here to make myself and the other staff think he deserves a year and we will see how he goes. He can play either central or right side of midfield.”