Boss Graham Turner is setting Shrewsbury Town’s bar sky high as the new season looms, insisting: “We’re gunning for promotion.”

Shrewsbury begin the nPower League Two campaign at home to Bradford City on Saturday, and the experienced manager is in confident mood for his new-look side’s chances.

A huge crowd is expected for what will be Turner’s first competitive match in charge of Shropshire’s No 1 club since his first spell ended with a 3-0 win over Derby County in May 1984.

And the man himself is in no mood to dampen expectations for his second coming, insisting he is building a squad capable of making an impact over the next nine months.

“People say don’t talk about promotion (at this stage), but the whole point of this season is to get promoted,” Turner insisted.

“We’ve got to talk about it, to believe that we’re good enough to do it — that we’ve got a squad that is good enough and strong enough to put us in contention.

“We’ll play a style of football that I hope the supporters will enjoy.

“We’ll get it down and pass it.

“We’ll make mistakes some days, we’ll have misunderstandings – early on in particular – but as the matches go on we’ll get better.

“We’re looking sharp and it’s at this point that you start to think it’s going to be a season to look forward to,” he added.

“We have to aim to get promotion – it’s long overdue at this football club and we’ll be looking to bring that aim to fruition this season.”

Meanwhile, a young Shrewsbury side were held to a 0-0 draw by Shawbury United in a friendly at the Butler Sports Ground in Wem last night.

Town had planned to give a run-out to New Zealand striker Kris Bright as he continues his rehabilitation from a summer shoulder operation but he was a late withdrawal from the side due to illness.

But young goalkeeper Hakan Duyan got a full game while young pros Danny Taylor, Connor Goldson, Harry Hooman and Jon Taylor all featured for an hour.

By CHRIS HUDSON