Goalkeeper Steve Phillips today waved farewell to Shrewsbury Town and declared: “Automatic promotion is there for the taking.”

Phillips brought the second month of his loan spell from Bristol Rovers to an end with the highly-encouraging 1-1 draw at Notts County.

The 31-year-old shot-stopper will return to his parent club, but is set to immediately link-up with Town’s League Two rivals Crewe today in a loan move which could be made permanent when the transfer window reopens in January.

And Phillips admits it is a personal setback that he will no longer remain at the Prostar Stadium after conceding just nine goals in his 11 starts.

“I’m really disappointed to be going because it’s a great football club and I have met a lot of really good people,” said Phillips.

“But I understand there is not an endless pot of money for clubs and that’s the way it goes in football.

“I think I’m leaving a club that will be up there all season and, if they can keep playing like we did at Notts County when we should have won, then automatic promotion is there for the taking for them.

“I think they would be very disappointed if they didn’t achieve that.”

Phillips left with special words for Town’s goalkeeping coach Dave Timmins.

“The biggest disappointment is that I won’t be working with Dave anymore.

“He has been different class and a big part in my form over the last 10 weeks.

” He is the most motivated goalkeeping coach I have ever come across.”

Town’s options were limited with three goalkeepers – Chris Neal, Andreas Arestidou and Glyn Garner already on the books.

Manager Paul Simpson paid tribute to Phillips’ work but has backed summer signing Chris Neal to bounce back from an injury to continue his encouraging start to the campaign.

“I have been speaking with Paul Trallope (Bristol Rovers manager) about Steve,” Simpson revealed.

“They didn’t want him cup-tied and we can’t do anything permanent with him.

“I’ve said to the players we have to thank him for what he has done because he has been outstanding for us.

“I believe we have got an outstanding goalkeeper in Chris Neal.”

By JAMES GARRISON