Paul Simpson

Shrewsbury’s depressing run continued on Saturday as they went down 2-1 at lowly Torquay, their fifth successive defeat ahead of a home clash against in-form Notts County this afternoon.

But, despite coming under increasing pressure from supporters, Simpson remains determined to turn to the tide.

Questioned over his future, Simpson said: “People will say that when you are losing games.

“There is only one person who will make that decision and that’s the chairman (Roland Wycherley).

“The chairman was very, very supportive last week because we all know we are in a difficult situation.

“Supporters have made their feelings quite well known about me.

“If you’re asking me if I’m going to chuck the towel in, then I’m going to have to say an emphatic no I’m not.

“I still believe this football club is in a position where we can move forward and I want to move forward with it.”

Meanwhile, on-loan full back Joe Skarz insists the players must take full responsibility for the recent slump.

“We’re not performing for the manager – it’s the fault of the players and nobody else,” said the Huddersfield man.

“The gaffer brought me here and it’s not nice to hear the fans saying what they are saying to him at the moment.

“He puts the team out and the one out there on Saturday afternoon should be good enough to beat Torquay United – and that’s no disrespect to Torquay.

“We have got to take the full blame for it.”

Skarz cut a visibly dejected figure as he prepared to board the team coach.

“It’s probably the lowest point I’ve had in football,” he added.

“We were 1-0 up at half-time and playing well and, even though they were putting us under pressure, I thought we were coping well.

“To concede a goal just after half-time was disappointing but at 1-1 it wasn’t a disaster.

“Their second goal deflated us a bit and it’s the worst moment of my football career so far.”