Former boss Jake King believes Shrewsbury Town legend Graham Turner should make an emotional return to his old club as manager.

The rumour mill has gone into overdrive on the prospect of Turner playing some part in Town’s future since the departure of Paul Simpson almost two weeks ago.

Turner is currently chairman at Hereford and had also taken over the managerial duties for the final weeks of the season after John Trewick’s exit.

But his 13-year stint at Edgar Street looks to be coming to an end.

Turner has put his shares up for sale and admitted before Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Rotherham that there was a “high probability” it would be his last game in charge.

Important

And King believes now is the perfect time for Turner to return to the Shrewsbury helm for the second time.

“For a start, Graham would be the fans’ favourite which is important,” said King.

“He had great times with the club in the past by getting them to what is the Championship now and keeping them there.

“His record speaks for itself and he knows the lower Leagues inside out.

“He has done well at Hereford and been there a long time, and I would imagine — with the new ground — that the finances at Shrewsbury would be better than there.

“He would be my choice for the manager and I think he would get the club promoted.”

King is well placed to comment having been captain of the team which Turner player-managed during the halcyon days of the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Turner led the team to the old third division championship before establishing the side in the second tier of English football.

He guided them to the joint highest finish of eighth in 1983-4 before moving on to manager Aston Villa and, subsequently, Wolves.

Amongst other names linked with the Shrewsbury job have been Paul Ince, Jim Gannon, Paul Sturrock and Alan Knill.

But Dave Penney – who was sacked at Oldham boss last week – has ruled himself out of the running.

“I haven’t applied and I’m going away on holiday with my wife next week to think.”

By JAMES GARRISON