Shrewsbury Town hope exodus kicks into gear with first sale
Shrewsbury Town are hopeful of moving a player out of Greenhous Meadow in the coming days as the summer exodus kicks into gear.
Boss Paul Hurst has made a number of his first-team squad available for transfer as he looks to stamp his authority on the Town squad.
A number of last summers acquisitions by former boss Micky Mellon were scarcely used under Hurst and the club think it beneficial to all parties if these players – many of whom have contracts that run into 2018 – are allowed chances to pursue game time elsewhere.
Midfielder Gary Deegan is a more surprising name to feature on the available list, as the Irishman was a regular feature and clocked up 48 appearances for the club this term.
And Hurst did not rule out more similar surprises departing this summer as Shrewsbury hope to seal the first transfer departure in the next couple of days.
Hurst, who last week made attackers Arthur Gnahoua and Lenell John-Lewis his first summer signings, is hoping to move on players not in his plans and conceded the situation 'would not be ideal' if Town were unable to shift.
"This is the situation as a club we find ourselves in, particularly for myself as manager," said Hurst.
"They will take time to develop.
"The closer we get to returning for pre-season (June 23) I'd expect to hear one or two things and once we're back you'd expect even more.
"Or then nothing could happen and we'll be with some players that aren't really in my plans and then that's a bridge we'd have to cross.
"It wouldn't be an ideal scenario but I'm confident enough I won't feel too awkward about it."
Club captain Adam El-Abd and fellow defenders Ryan McGivern and Olly Lancashire found themselves on the periphery of Hurst's match day squad after the boss's October appointment.
Scot Jim O'Brien, a high-profile signing from Barnsley last summer, spent the whole second half of last season on loan at Scottish side Ross County.
"Those players and their agents have been told that we would allow them to move on," added chief executive Brian Caldwell.
"Its beneficial for all parties that players play and if they aren't going to get games it's in their interest as well as the club's to try and move (them) on to get games.
"It doesn't do players any favours having a spell at a club without many appearances as in the long term other clubs will look at appearances in the future."
