Manager Paul Simpson today pledged to stay calm after Shrewsbury Town missed out on a potential replacement for Grant Holt.

Dagenham forward Paul Benson has rejected the chance to move to the Prostar Stadium because of a desire to remain in London due to family reasons.

That comes as a fresh blow to Simpson who is keen to bolster his squad with the League Two opener against Burton on Saturday week.

But he has pledged to take a pragmatic approach in his attempts to strengthen his hand.

“We have got other people we are enquiring about and we are at the stage where we are talking to clubs and agents and we are just waiting for answers,” he said.

“The fact that we haven’t brought any players in yet over the last couple of weeks isn’t for the lack of trying.

“I can understand the fans frustrations with losing the last two friendlies and Grant Holt moving on.

“But now isn’t the time to panic – it’s about keeping calm about it and make sure we are bringing the right people into the club.”

It is understood Town lodged a six-figure offer for Benson, who scored 21 times last season as Dagenham narrowly missed out on the play-offs.

“It’s a bit of a disappointment because he was a player we felt would come in and improve our squad,” added the Town boss.

“We got to the point where Dagenham asked the player if he wanted to go.

“But he did not want to leave London because of family reasons – and that’s something you get a lot.”

Meanwhile, Town will give run-outs to four members of their first team squad when a Shrewsbury XI heads to Ellesmere Rangers tonight (ko 7pm).

Joining a youthful squad will be strikers Omer Riza and Dave Hibbert, now fully recovered from a foot injury, midfielder Terry Dunfield and defender Harry Hooman.

An un-named foreign trialist will also feature, but right winger Craig Dobson has seen his trial end. The former MK Dons man was taken off after just 30 minutes of Saturday’s 4-0 defeat to Leicester.

By JAMES GARRISON