Mat Sadler: John Askey can bring Shrewsbury Town together
Mat Sadler believes the ability to forge another tight-knit group was a crucial factor in John Askey’s appointment at Shrewsbury Town.
Town returned from a week of warm-weather training and bonding in Spain yesterday and Sadler admitted Askey’s achievement in guiding unfancied Macclesfield to the National League title last season caught his eye.
The team spirit was cited as a key reason in Shrewsbury’s remarkable push for League One promotion last season under Paul Hurst, who joined Ipswich.
Sadler, who was club captain last season, reckons Askey was earmarked for his ability to pull a group together and perform above expectations while working on a modest budget. “All of a sudden Macclesfield came out of the pack and didn’t seem to stop winning and picking up points and really blew the field apart,” said Town’s centre-half.
“They did it with a limited playing budget – everyone would agree with that – so they must have had some serious unity about them.
“Similar to how it was here in this division. I’m guessing that was a big reason why the manager was right at the top of the list to replace the old gaffer.
“They did fantastically well. (He’s got) Really good pedigree and I’m sure there are plenty of gems he’s seen along the way that he’d like to bring in.”
Askey has so far brought in Fejiri Okenabirhie, Kieran Kennedy and Ryan Haynes from lower down the pyramid.
Goalkeepers Jake Kean and Nick Townsend and former Manchester United midfielder Devonte Redmond were assessed on trial in Valencia.
Sadler expects more signings from the lower ranks of the English game – a tactic that worked well for Hurst at Montgomery Waters Meadow last term.
He continued: “The manager will have extreme experience of those and know who they are, he’s brought in Fay (Okenabirhie) already who he quoted in his eyes the best front player in that division last season. You need the experience to know that and I’m sure there are others he thinks similar of.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see that as an avenue for us to pursue. It’s quite exciting to give people opportunities. There’s a motivation about people that want to prove people wrong, as it was last season.
“I expect that to be a similar way.”
Town begin their pre-season friendly schedule with a behind-closed-doors game against Kidderminster on Wednesday before a trip to Championship side Bristol City on Saturday (1pm kick-off).
