Rallying call to save Royal British Legion clubs
- Today's leader
Simpson says he is the right man for the job
Monday 26th April 2010, 1:16PM BST.
Paul Simpson
Shrewsbury Town boss Paul Simpson is confident he is the man to mount a promotion challenge next season.
Town began their campaign with lofty ambitions but saw their realistic hopes of making a late charge for the play-offs go up in smoke with Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Northampton.
That result left Shrewsbury in 12th position, five points off the top seven with just two games tomorrow.
But, while Simpson recognises it has been a disappointing campaign, he remains desperate to bring success to the Prostar Stadium.
“I do still believe I am the man,” he said.
“I had to build it in my first summer and we just missed out (on promotion, losing the play-off final),” said the Town boss.
“I had to rebuild more than I expected last summer because of different events going on.
“We lost 42 goals (with Ben Davies and Grant Holt) last summer and we have not come anywhere near to replacing them.
“The club have had loads of money coming through from Grant Holt, we are still hopeful on getting money for Chris Humphrey with compensation from Motherwell and we got money for Marc Tierney (from Colchester).
“We will have to wait and see what happens.”
Simpson admitted his team’s shortage of goals and chances had proved an issue throughout the campaign.
Dave Hibbert is the leading scorer with 15 while Steve Leslie is next in the charts with just six.
“That has been a big problem all season,” he said.
“We haven’t had that real incisive pass that takes someone in on goal.
“We haven’t had the quality when we have had things in there to go and finish it off.
“It sums it up when your leading goalscorer has 15 and nobody else comes anywhere near him.
“That’s a major issue we have suffered for this season.
“If that is the play-offs over, we have to start looking forward now and preparing ourselves for next season.
“But I think there are a lot of questions that need to be answered before we can start looking any further ahead.”
By JAMES GARRISON
Sponsored Links
UK Sport
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
You can NOT be serious !!!!!!
Report abuse
I’m sorry mr.simpson but you are not the right man for the job,yes you may have signed dave button on loan and kept shane sherriff,but apart from these two players everyone else you have signed has either been too old or has not achieved, you and you alone are responsible, you have blamed the supporters the players when you and you alone should except responsibility for your failure to reach the play-offs.Football today is about success not being 12th in league two, please submit your resignation ASAP and let a new manager suceed where you have failed.
Report abuse
As a life long Town fan(45years)I wouldnt put Simpson in charge of a milk float nevermind my beloved Football Club.
Report abuse
I don’t share PS’s confidence about what he can do next season. He, and the team, have come up short and there needs to be drastic changes to give the Shrews a new start. A Plymouth Argyle supporter friend of mine says he understands Paul Sturrock is being associated with the managers post. Also the Sunday press suggested Steve Cotterill of Notts Co. is a target for an “ambitious Shrewsbury”. Seems like change will happen!
Report abuse
there is far to much negativity at shrewsbury town all through the club. and most of the blame should lie with the board who i feel have not been very supportive of mr simpson. if he was the man to take us forward or to take us forward, why would the board not support him in the summer by allowing the 3 called better players in HOLT DAVIES AN HUMPHREYS to leave when they have all achieved good seasons this year for there new club. shrewsbury town as long as i have supported them 30 years sell sell sell. with little investment back.2nd i would blame the players who have not shown respect to manager and fans a like, there seems little passion and pride, may be DAVE BUTTON should of been captain as i feel he has been the only player to show any of the above, especially towards the supporters he has been brillant. 3rd the fans are to blame, yes everyones entitled to there opinion at games, but not verbal abuse to the players an manager, it gets you no where, as this season has proved. 4th i put mr simpson who i do believe is a good manager with a load of c..p players who either are to old,not interested cause there going elsewhere, and lack respect. so my message to all is if we all pull togther fans, board, players, and continuity with a manager will bring sucess. good luck in 2010 – 2011 season come on you blues.
Report abuse
SIMPSON IS A LEGEND
Report abuse
HOMER DOOOHHH
Report abuse
I THINK ITS TIME FOR MR WYCHERLEY TO PUT AN END TO THIS ONCE AND FOR ALL.
THE SIMPLE FACT IS THAT SHREWS BURY TOWN FC HAVE NOT BEEN GOOD ENOUGH AGAIN!.
I DO NOT LIKE TO SEE ANY PERSON LOOSE THERE JOB BUT RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEM SELVES AND THE LEAGUE DOES NOT LEI, IF SHREWS BURY WANT PROMOTION THERE NEED TO BE CHANGES AND ITS TIME FOR PAUL SIMPSON TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND SET DOWN AND LET ANOTHER MANAGER HAVE AGO WHERE HE HAS FAILED.
SHREWSBURY TOWN ARE A WELL EQUIPPED CLUB AND SHOULD BE CHALLENGING FOR AT LEAST THE PLAY- OFFS. ALSO I THINK THE FANS DO HAVE ARIGHT TO VOICE THERE OPINIONS, FOOTBALL HAS CHANGED, SHREWSBURY TOWN CHARGE £19 PER ADULT AND HAVE ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE SEASON TICKETS IN THE LOWER LEAGUES SO THE FANS HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO SHOW THERE DISAPPOINTMENT.
Report abuse
Since many of you seem to think that Paul Simpson is not up to the job let’s be hearing some suggestions as to who is capable and more importantly who the club can afford.
When the new manager has agreed to come he should only be given a one year contract in case he does not deliver the required promotion.
Report abuse
The trouble is that Simpson still thinks the squad he has got are good enough,just signing another forward is not good enough,a good clear out is what’s needed.
Report abuse
Something for all anti-Simpson fans to think about – Alex Ferguson won nothing in his first 3 seasons at Manchester United.
“Three years of excuses and it’s still crap. Ta ra Fergie.” was displayed at Old Trafford, and many journalists and supporters called for Ferguson to be sacked
Imagine if they had….
Fans need to get a grip and see what Simpson has done for the club in his short spell here.
- Play Off final in first full season
- Made one of the best signings town have made in the last decade – Holty
Back him!
Report abuse
i have been a fan and a true blue for over forty years this season has been a complete disaster there has been no passion on or off the pitch the buck must stop with the manager for our sake mr simpson must go i live 3 miles from burton on trent and ihave seen better football from there reserves if the manager cannot motivate the players that by and large he bought he must go and the board must also take responsibility for this bloody awful season ?
Report abuse