Shrewsbury Town poised for answers on new deals
Shrewsbury Town are expecting answers this week from their out-of-contract players who were offered fresh terms.
EFL rules state players have a month, from the deals being offered, to respond – otherwise the club have the right to withdraw the offer.
Mat Sadler, Shaun Rowley and Bryn Morris were made offers by boss Paul Hurst. Shaun Whalley was a fourth and the winger agreed a new two-year contract shortly after.
Players have been away enjoying post-season holidays but Town are due a decision one way or the other before Saturday’s deadline, or risk the club withdrawing their offers.
Hurst recently hinted he was confident that two of the players would remain at Shrewsbury.
Sadler, 32, shone after Hurst’s October appointment, going on to win the Player of the Season award and is understood to be keen to stay.
Burgeoning goalkeeper Rowley, 20, had two good loan spells to aid his development. Shrewsbury already have last season’s No.1 Jayson Leutwiler and Callum Burton on contract for next season.
Midfielder Morris, 21, moved from boyhood club Middlesbrough in January and featured 13 times for Town.
But, whatever the outcome, Town have secured compensation payment for both Rowley and Morris by writing to the players and as the duo are under the age of 23.
Meanwhile, Hurst has ruled out a summer approach for any Grimsby Town players.
The Town chief had previously been linked with a move for goalkeeper James McKeown, who served Hurst at the Mariners for a number of years.
The Greenhous Meadow club began their summer re-build last week as they made Arthur Gnahoua and Lenell John-Lewis their first signings.
Hurst has said Tow n have been in talks with enough players to fill a whole playing squad.
Shrewsbury were also said to be keen on a move for left-back Danny Andrew, who scooped multiple awards at the club’s end of season do.
Zak Mills, the Grimsby right-back, was another courting the attention further up the pyramid but Hurst gave a resounding answer on landing any signings from his former employers.
“No there aren’t players there that will be signing here,” said Hurst.
“I said last time there are players that will probably make the step up but, for whatever reason, contract situation or whatever, I don’t envisage any player from my former club.”
