Holt leaves Shrewsbury Town
Friday 24th July 2009, 4:00PM BST.
Record signing and last season’s top scorer Grant Holt this afternoon left Shrewsbury Town.
Two days of constant speculation linking Holt with a move to Norwich ended when Town chairman Roland Wycherley confirmed that Holt had moved to the Canaries.
The 29-year-old scored 28 times for Shrewsbury since moving from Nottingham Forest last summer for £170,000.
- Holt in pictures – click here
No fee has been revealed by Shrewsbury for the forward’s switch to the League One club, but it is understood to be in the region of £450,000.
Chairman Roland Wycherley said: “We have made it clear all along that we are not a selling club and had turned down significant bids.
“But the situation changes dramatically when a player’s agent calls our manager and says the player doesn’t want to spend another season in League Two.
“Like most fans, I would have liked to have seen Grant here, playing with passion for our club again next season.
“But when he has expressed his wish to move to a higher league, then we have to thank him for what he has done, wish him well for the future and look to what is right for Shrewsbury Town.
“These are tough times in football, with fantasy spending in some quarters and other clubs looking like they could go to the wall.
“If a player has an opportunity to progress to a higher level then we have to consider it – but only if the deal suits Shrewsbury Town.
“I feel I have done that and, while sad Grant is leaving, I’m confident that this is an extremely favourable deal for the club, greatly above what was invested to bring him here, so we have made the very best of the situation.
“The Board will continue to support Paul Simpson’s work to develop a balanced team.”
- For the full story and reactions see tomorrow’s Shropshire Star
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haha, this goes to show how far behind the club has fallen, good luck to you grant i hope you reach new highs with your new club.
the support shown to the club at wembley shows how far the club has sunk! No voice No passion.
Just familys buying the children all the new bits of kit not knowing the players names any history and scowling at people singing and cheering on their team (their lifes team).
players like this do Not come along everyday and grant and some of the other players must wonder whats wrong when all the crowd can sing is somthing that won`t stop them eating or drinking! the club is being destroyed by our new found support at otley rd and the powers at be thinking that its best for the club if we are family friendly and thats that!
good luck grant and good luck trying to replace him.
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Ben Davies to Notts County; Carl Humphrey to Motherwell; No recognised right of left back; Our new first choice keeper injured (minor); Grant Holt to Norwich…..and now the statement
“The Board will continue to support Paul Simpson’s work to develop a balanced team.”
I hope that doesn’t mean that they have given him the “Vote of Confidence”. ;)
Methinks I’d better get me booties on. :)
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whatever happens now the team is not as strong as last season, even is we had all £450.000 to spend on a striker what striker worth that much would play in league two…
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nice bit of ambition there shown by the board!! one thinks that if we are serious about getting out of this league then we really need to keep hold of a player who can bang in 30goals a season! lets hpoe his replacement knows where the back of the net is!!
good luck holty!! and good luck to the person trying to fill his boots!!
SALOP!!
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Not huge surprise, but a huge blow to stfc. Holt represented the only half decent player in the squad. 2009/2010 season is not looking good for all you blues.
I think the writing is on the wall for Simpson too, I’d be very suprised if he sees the season out.
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Interesting views expressed here, and whilst I can see the sale of Holt does make good business sense on one hand, it does beg the question of where will the goals come from next season what with Davies gone too.
For a club to progress beyond league 2, ambition and good business accumen themselves are not suffice. You need a squad capable of making the step up, and I hope that is what we have, but only time will tell.
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perhaps once a riversider should move a little closer to the river, preferablt in it. selling holt was an excellent deal, after all since christmas the lad hardly appeared on the score sheet. we now have up to 300k to spend on a decent striker, benson of the daggers being a possibility.
Now let’s get back to a decent 3 loggerheads badge and a floreat salopia. without this our great club is nothing and our players kick that ball in vain. are you listening roland and the board.
finally can our stadium much admired by other clubs be called the prostar- arthur rowley stadium.
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