The future of Shrewsbury Town’s Ben Davies was today placed in fresh doubt – with manager Paul Simpson revealing he is planning for next season without the midfielder.

The one-month deadline for Davies and five other out-of-contract players to give an answer over whether they will accept new deals passed this week without Davies committing his future.

“I spoke to Ben and his agent (Ian Taylor) yesterday and they said they had not made a decision yet,” said Simpson, who has revealed the contract offer will remain on the table – at least until another midfielder is signed.

“They said they haven’t had the chance to speak to other clubs.

“Ben’s had a lot on his plate with getting married but we need to get on with planning and, at this moment in time, I’m planning without Ben Davies.”

Simpson also confirmed that Steve Leslie, Omer Riza and Kelvin Langmead had all now signed their contracts, but winger Chris Humphrey had opted to delay putting pen to paper to further consider his options.

Town have rejected one bid from an unnamed Championship club for Humphrey, who may now return to pre-season training on Wednesday without signing a contract.

Meanwhile, Colchester’s interest in raiding Shrewsbury for star striker Grant Holt appears to be cooling.

The League One club had an initial offer for Town’s leading scorer rejected last week, but insisted then that they remained hopeful a deal could be concluded.

But the latest murmurings from the Essex club suggest they may now be tempted to turn their attention elsewhere in the hunt for striking reinforcements.

“It appears that Shrewsbury have said he’s not for sale and we have to accept that,” said Colchester chief executive Steve Bradshaw.

“It doesn’t alter the fact that we are in the market for strikers and that search will continue.”

Those comments suggest that Colchester will either return with an improved bid for Holt or, more likely, take their search elsewhere.

Yesterday’s transfer of winger Mark Yeates to Middlesbrough should give Colchester manager Paul Lambert extra leverage in the transfer market.

By JAMES GARRISON