Town's Scott Vernon happy to fight for place
Scott Vernon today insisted he is happy to stay at Shrewsbury Town and fight for his place - despite being told he can leave.
The 31-year-old striker, who has a year left on his contract, has been allowed to go with left-back Mickey Demetriou as manager Micky Mellon looks to finance new deals for out-of-contract duo Jermaine Grandison and Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro.
The much-travelled former Oldham, Blackpool and Aberdeen forward has turned down the chance of a two-year contract at an un-named League Two club and he was the only senior outfield player who failed to feature in Tuesday's 2-0 friendly win at Kidderminster.
But he is happy to compete with James Collins, Tyrone Barnett and Liam McAlinden - plus Akpa-Akpro if he re-signs.
"Definitely," said Vernon, who hasn't featured much since a hat-trick in the opening friendly at Market Drayton. "I did it all last season and I'd have liked to have played more games, but I'm under contract for another season so that's what I intend to do until told otherwise.
"I feel I've gained good experience and scored goals at League One level throughout so hopefully I can do it again.
"I'm going to really try to stake a claim for a place."
Vernon believes he is better suited to League One than League Two, where he scored once in 22 games last season.
"I'd say the higher level probably suits me more in the way I play," he said.
"Last season there were battles week-in, week-out really, especially away games.
"It was the first time I'd played at that level and it was very different.
"Hopefully it might suit me more at this level - it's more of a thinking game."
Vernon accepts he may have to become a squad player if he remains at the Greenhous Meadow.
"That's part of football - nowadays it's becoming more of a squad game because of the amount of matches," he said.
"That's something we expect as well, but we've all got that determination to try to get in there.
"As a striker you're always facing competition.
"Then if you're not performing you're out of the team and someone else gets the nod."
"All we can do is work our hardest and leave the rest up to the manager to pick the side.
"He was only saying recently he's got a good problem because he's got such good players he feels it's going to be tough to select a side."
