Shrewsbury Town forward Louis Dodds raring to go against former boss Rob Page

Page managed the creative midfielder at Port Vale, where Town stars Ryan McGivern and AJ Leitch-Smith also featured.

Shrewsbury face Page's Northampton tomorrow, who made a great start to the season following last year's promotion but have struggled in recent weeks.

"He's a great bloke on and off the pitch and I've got a lot of time for him," Dodds said.

"They're a good solid team that are not going to roll over. They're going to come here and try and get the win and play some fast attacking free-flowing football, so we've got to be right on it and not concede the first goal.

"Hopefully we'll get the three points and that sets us up for the new manager coming in, whenever that may be."

Dodds was full of praise for temporary Town boss Danny Coyne, who hasn't enjoyed the easiest of times, overseeing three defeats.

He added: "We've got to steady the ship and stop the rot. Coyney's done really well just to keep a lid on everything. Sometimes when a caretaker comes in it can be a free for all.

"I've been at clubs where the players take charge and haven't got a clue. Coyney's come in and everyone is working for him and he's done really well steadying the ship.

"He's still got that friendly approach to him. He's shown the lads that he's got more coaching ability than we thought – we'd only seen him with the goalkeepers.

"He's done well, it's been thrown upon him. The lads are trying to do the best for him."

The Town talisman is looking forward to getting the new manger in, hoping that he can also progress on a personal level.

"Normally when teams get a new manager in it always has a galvanizing effect and hopefully that will be the same for us – looking at the league the only way is up for us," Dodds said.

"Hopefully with the new manager we can really start attacking teams, rather than being on the back foot and chasing games. I prefer to be a no. 10 just off the striker.

"Everyone knows I like to find a little bit of space and score good goals.

"I'm happy to score any, but the ones that look better are nicer. I'd like to get to double-figures."

The former Vale man also revealed there was nothing superstitious in getting rid of his trademark flowing locks.

"I'm getting a lot of grey hairs now, having just turned 30. Grey hairs are not too bad when they're short. When they were long my missus was telling me to get it cut for a long time. I bit the bullet and went short!"

Dodds was quick to praise the Shrewsbury fans, who often sing his name at Greenhous Meadow, despite results not going their way so far this season.

"The first couple of times I heard it I thought 'I'm sure that's my name!' I'm delighted with it," he said.

"Having come from rivals you need to make an impression and hopefully I've done that.

"Hopefully they'll sing it a bit more because I'm going around and playing well."