Comment: New-look Shrewsbury Town ready to make a stand

The real thing is back today. Just 70 days since Richard Wood’s head condemned Shrewsbury to Wembley heartbreak, the ride begins again. This time John Askey is the blue and amber conductor.

Several members of that much-loved Town team have departed. Likewise the management staff.

Perhaps the toughest of these player exits were all-but confirmed this week as star duo Jon Nolan and Toto Nsiala decided it was time to join Paul Hurst, Chris Doig and Chris Skitt at Ipswich Town and test themselves in the Championship.

In truth, and hindsight is a blessing, Hurst was always likely to be keen on taking his favoured duo over to Suffolk. He trusts them inmeasurably.

Town will undoubtedly miss the talented Scousers and the task to replace them is a steep one. But it’s time to draw a line under that – and look forward at what still is a fresh, new and exciting era.

I for one cannot wait to see the Salop Leisure South Stand standing and bouncing come 3pm today. Safe standing will bring such great attention on the football club.

I am confident that the area will be a successful. I’m sure it will look and sound fantastic. If Town’s players need to rally and are shooting towards that end then the newly-designed ‘Blue and Amber Army’ can make a real difference behind there.

It will be interesting to get a feel of how the dynamic will work with the vocal section of support that chose to remain in Block 19.

Back on the playing side, it is without question that, within Askey’s solid recruitment of 11 new faces to beef out that depleted squad, there are exciting additions.

There seems to have been an emphasis in attack. Forwards Aaron Amadi-Holloway and Fejiri Okenabirhie and winger Alex Gilliead have already showed glimpses of their ability.

They add to talented options already in place in Shaun Whalley and Stefan Payne. While it has been clear from Askey’s interviews that Arthur Gnahoua and Abo Eisa will play their part.

Town have played some eye-catching stuff during the off-season. Thirteen goals in six games suggests a will to raid the opposition goal.

Seven goals conceded shows that perhaps Town’s defence will not be as rigid and water-tight as it was last term.

Fewer 1-0 victories are almost a certainty.

Nsiala’s departure could leave Town short in the heart of defence and you’d wager Askey will be keen to find a replacement.

Should Mat Sadler or Omar Beckles struggle for fitness or form, there is only the new and untried Kieran Kennedy or the apparently unfancied Zak Jules.

James Bolton can step in and do a job but that would not be ideal.

Hopefully behind the back line lies a solid and dependable individual between the posts. If Huddersfield prospect Joel Coleman can get near the success of his Manchester United predecessor Dean Henderson then Askey has done a fine job.

Anthony Grant, Doug Loft, Josh Laurent and Charlie Colkett bring experience, power, style and guile to the midfield ranks. It will be interesting to see how Askey goes about shaping his three-man midfield.

Here’s to the next nine months. If I could have begun to imagine what would pan out this time last year then I’d have been branded insane.

A good start is so valuable. Lenell John-Lewis’ added time winner this time last year proved that as it started an unfathomable 15-game unbeaten run.

Askey is absolutely desperate to get off to a good start, to settle fans down and salvage existing goodwill. He will need time, and backing, but Town could excite again this season.