Ex-Shrewsbury Town pair backed to succeed at Preston

Former Shrewsbury Town duo Nicky Wroe and Shane Cansdell-Sherriff have been backed to succeed at Preston North End by Deepdale chairman Peter Risdale.

The former Cardiff and Leeds supremo insists the pair will come with a winning mentality having joined on two-year deals this week.

Both were offered new contracts at Shrewsbury but opted to join Graham Westley's side who finised 14th in League One last season.

Ridsdale has worked with both in the past and knows what sort of characters have come on board.

"These two lads are winners and both good sorts," he said.

"They've just had success at Shrewsbury and now we want them to step up and do the same here with us.

"Shane was at Leeds when I was there – Terry Venables brought him in. And Nicky was in Barnsley's academy when I went there, so I know exactly what they can add to us.

"Shane can play at left-back but is primarily a centre-half, and a ball-playing centre-half at that.

"Nicky is a real box-to-box midfielder who chips in with goals. Both lads were really keen to come here.

"Graham Westley and myself watched them a few times and liked what we saw."

The pair will join North End on July 1.

Meanwhile, Wroe took to Twitter to express the gratitude to the Town fans, having ended his 18-month stay at the Greenhous Meadow.

He said: "Would like to thank all the fans from Shrewsbury for all the well wishes. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Shropshire playing for the club.

"Gaining promotion was a very special achievement and one I will remember for a long time."

Town acted quickly to replace Wroe by signing Oxford United midfielder Asa Hall on a two-year deal while boss Graham Turner is still waiting on decisions from captain Ian Sharps, top scorer James Collins and goalkeeper Chris Neal who have been offered new deals.