Shropshire Star

Paul Hurst still looking to offload Shrewsbury Town duo

Shrewsbury Town boss Paul Hurst remains intent on getting rid of Ryan McGivern and AJ Leitch-Smith, adding: “Something has got to happen.”

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Defender McGivern and forward Leitch-Smith, both aged 27, have not been training with the first team recently.

The pair were signed last summer from Port Vale, when Micky Mellon was Town boss, but fell out out favour after Hurst took the reins.

He said: “I think there has been one or two enquiries but nothing looks like its happening at the minute.

“We will just see what these next couple of weeks bring.”

Northern Ireland international McGivern, who started out at Manchester City, made 18 appearances for Town last season – picking up eight bookings and a red card.

Leitch-Smith played 21 times, scoring five goals.

Hurst, ideally, wants to shift them on before the transfer window closes on August 31.

If that does not work out, he will be looking at sending them out on loan to non-league, which is not bound by a transfer deadline until March.

Hurst said: “After that, realistically, you are looking that they can go out to the Conference.

“I am sure that both would like to be playing League football so something has got to happen.

“There’s still a bit of time, but relatively quickly if that is going to be the case.”

Meanwhile, 18-year-old midfielder Chris Gallagher has been included in Northern Ireland’s Under-19s squad for two friendlies against Cyprus next month.

Hurst added: “”It will be good for him. I think he is seen as a good player for them at that age group.

“Hopefully training with the first team squad will have benefitted him as well, and he will see a progression.

“It’s a nice distraction for him because, at the minute, he is not realistically pushing to play in our first team.

“It will be good for him to go in a different environment and hopefully impress.”