Shrewsbury Town are unlikely to sign up trialists
Boss Micky Mellon is unlikely to add any trialists to his Shrewsbury squad – but isn't ruling out a senior addition.
The Greenhous Meadow chief ran the rule over two players during last Saturday's friendly defeat to Cardiff City, but it is now unlikely that either will sign terms.
Non-league right-back Kane Smith, of Hitchin Town, was one to feature, while the squad still appears light in forward areas with Tyrone Barnett's future still under scrutiny.
But Mellon revealed that the budget and squad size mean any move for a trialist appears off, although the door is not closed to first-teamers.
"The trialists aren't involved at the minute," said the Town boss.
"We have to be fairly honest with them and the situation is that we are at the ceiling of the budget and it would be a one-in, one-out.
"Believe it or not, we want to have a small squad this season, it's the way that we've sort of designed it.
"We have a lot of young players that take the numbers up to 17,18,19 and 20 players.
"So we have to make sure that if we do bring in anybody that it is going to be a first-team player.
"Anybody that comes in now would have to improve the group.
"I don't think that we really have a situation where we can carry too much promise and potential."
Mellon, who takes his charges to National League outfit Solihull Moors tomorrow for a third pre-season friendly after one defeat and one victory, provided an update on one of a number of defensive-minded midfielders in his squad.
Richie Wellens has featured in both second halves so far this summer and the 36-year-old still has a year to run on the deal he signed in January.
The Meadow chief added: "As we stand here there is no interest (in Richie Wellens).
"In football things can change very, very quickly but as of now he is still in my plans.
"That goes for every player here. As we know last season, on the day before transfer deadline day the whole team got pretty much decimated and we sold them all."
