Shaun Whalley aiming for better at Shrewsbury Town
Shaun Whalley has set sights on challenging higher up the League One table with Shrewsbury Town next season after agreeing a new deal.
The 29-year-old winger has signed a contract which will keep him at Greenhous Meadow until the summer of 2019.
Whalley was one of Town’s standout performers as they staged an escape from relegation under boss Paul Hurst and expressed delight at extending his stay.
“I love the town. I love the club. It’s a brilliant place to be,” he said. “I’m hoping we will not be fighting relegation like the last two seasons and give it a good go. That is the hope. You go into every season looking to do as well as we can.
“I wanted to stay. The manager wanted me to stay. It was simple to get sorted.
“I think the manager’s style of football suits my game. Hopefully I can continue to do well next season.”
Whalley, whose previous deal had been set to expire at the end of next month, was one of four players offered fresh terms by Hurst, who expects to hear from Mat Sadler, Bryn Morris and Shaun Rowley in the coming days.
"I have not pushed on the other lads yet but I would be expecting to hear from them shortly," said Hurst. "With Mat Sadler, we have agreed a time to have a catch-up. With the other two, realistically, I think they have had enough time now that I will be expecting something from them in the not too distant future.
"It’s still very early days. Some negotiations have taken place. Conversations certainly. We will see how they progress."
The boss has also challenged Whalley to kick on again next season. He added: "I don’t want Shaun to think that is it now and get comfortable. I want him to push himself. He is at the age where he maybe has one big move left in him.
"Certainly, I want the opposition to be talking about him. I want them to be looking at us and thinking ‘we have to stop Shaun Whalley’."
Chief executive Brian Caldwell has meanwhile admitted the club must accept the outcome of the vote which means the Checkatrade Trophy will remain in its controversial, revamped format for the next two seasons.
Town were among those clubs who voted for the competition to revert to its former guise, without invited under-23 teams. But 32 of the 48 clubs in Leagues One and Two chose to retain the new format, which will include youth teams from the Premier League and Championship.
"We just have to accept that is what most of the clubs wanted to do," said Caldwell. "We will just go ahead as before and try to make a success of it."
