Boss Paul Simpson was today stepping up his bid to strengthen Shrewsbury Town’s defensive options – after failing in approaches for four targets.

Simpson is eager to bring in an extra body at the back, having lost skipper Graham Coughlan for around three weeks due to a hamstring injury.

He hopes to have someone on board ahead of Saturday’s clash at home to Dagenham & Redbridge, but admits the search is proving difficult.

“We’ve been trying desperately this week to get players in,” he revealed.

“We’ve tried for four left-sided defenders so far but we’ve failed in all the attempts to get the players who were on our scouting radar.

“We’ll keep working on it, and ideally I’d like to have someone in for training tomorrow so we can work with them before the Dagenham game. It’s proving very difficult at the moment, but we’ve just got to keep going.

“I’m waiting on calls back today and we’ll keep going through our lists of players to see if we can find someone to come in who we believe can do a job for us.”

Shane Cansdell-Sherriff slotted into the middle of defence following Coughlan’s injury early in the 1-1 draw at Burton on Saturday.

Cansdell-Sherriff also went to hospital this week for a precautionary foot x-ray after taking a knock in the same game, but that has come back clear.

“There’s no break and we’re not expecting any problems with him,” added the Town chief.

Meanwhile, Simpson was at the game between Stafford Rangers and AFC Telford United last night to monitor the progress of youngster Andre Gray, who is on loan with the Bucks.

Telford lost the game 2-0, and Simpson admitted: “It was a difficult game and a difficult surface to play on, so it probably wasn’t Andre’s best game.

“The things I recognised in his game last night were the reasons I sent him out on loan, and it’s good experience for him to be playing in matches that matter.”

By CHRIS HUDSON