Shrewsbury Town start business at home
Manager Micky Mellon admits sorting out the biggest slices of the cake – his 'first team' – will be the priority of his Shrewsbury Town rebuilding this summer.
The club are currently finalising their retained list with 17 players out of contract, plus five loans returning to parent clubs and two coming back in James Collins and Tyrone Barnett.
Among those whose futures are up in the air at the moment are goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler, captain Nathaniel Knight-Percival and left-back Junior Brown.
Mellon wants to get the futures of his main players – as well as key signings – established first.
He said: "At this stage, we'll be trying to get the first 11 sorted out and we'll see what's left because the cake's only so big.
"Some people take a bigger slice of the cake than others. We have a plan and the chairman has a list of players.
"Things have been planned well ahead because that's what we do.
"There's a list of names there that I believe, if the club can entice them here, there will be a lot of happy people."
Barnett has claimed he would like to move to Southend on a permanent basis, after joining Phil Brown's side on loan in January.
Collins ended the campaign with eight goals in 21 games for Northampton to help the Cobbers to the League Two title.
The 25-year-old striker is Shrewsbury's top earner on an estimated £3,000-a-week.
