John Askey wants Shrewsbury Town to be entertainers

Salop found their shooting boots during the week, delighting fans with a 6-0 demolition job on Tranmere Rovers in the Checkatrade Trophy.

The free-flowing football from Askey’s side was too hot to handle for League Two Rovers.

And while tougher tests lie ahead for Town, who went to Fleetwood today in League One action, the blue and amber chief has called on his charges to carry on expressing themselves.

“It is all about winning, but it’s about entertaining as well,” said Askey.

“It’s getting the balance right between winning and playing good football.

“We want Shrewsbury Town to play good football so players want to come and sign for us.

“They know that we’ll get the ball down and play.”

Askey, though, knows there is a fine line to tread when it comes to being expansive.

He does not want his charges falling into the trap of passing just for the sake of it. The former forward wants them to be incisive.

“It’s no use over-playing, I’d stress that. There’s no use (in it being) pass, pass, pass and going nowhere,” said Askey.

“The emphasis is on passing and moving, getting at teams and making runs forward.

“Hopefully that’s entertaining. We have created chances but not scored as many as we’d have liked.

“Hopefully the players enjoy playing for me and the supporters enjoy it, but nobody enjoys it if you’re not winning – I’m also aware of that.”

Town went into today’s encounter having scored just 10 goals in 12 league games. They had conceded a respectable 11 goals.

Meanwhile, former Salop winger Chris Humphrey has retired at the age of 31 due to injury. He made 74 appearances for Town between 2006 and 2009.