Shrewsbury boss John Askey: There will be no return to Macclesfield
John Askey has rubbished ‘ridiculous’ rumours of him returning to Macclesfield Town – as his Shrewsbury predecessor Paul Hurst was sacked by Ipswich.
The Town boss was earlier this week as low as 5/1 second-favourite to fill the vacant role at Moss Rose, where he played, coached and managed for 34 years before heading to Shrewsbury in the summer.
Askey signed a three-year deal to replace Paul Hurst, whose near-five month spell in charge of Ipswich was ended yesterday.
Hurst – whose Salop exit was confirmed just three days after Town lost in last season’s League One play-off final at Wembley – managed just one win in 14 Championship outings with the Tractor Boys. Askey had been under increasing pressure from Shrews faithful but eased that with a fine 3-1 win over promotion hopefuls Barnsley on Tuesday night.
“I’ve got no thoughts on it whatsoever because it’s just ridiculous,” said Askey on the links with him at the Macclesfield job.
“I want to stay here. When I first came here I said ‘if I was here for another 20 years then I’d be more than happy’.
“I’ve got no thoughts about going back to Macclesfield at all. I’m here to do a job.
“That would probably be the last place I’d want to go at the moment – it is ridiculous.”
Hurst, who had also signed a three-year deal at Ipswich, is likely to be replaced by former Stoke, Villa and Wolves boss Paul Lambert at Portman Road.
Hurst’s assistant at Shrewsbury and Ipswich, Chris Doig, also left the club.
Former long-term Shrewsbury physio Chris Skitt remains part of the Ipswich medical team.
Meanwhile, Askey leads Town to bottom four side Oxford United tomorrow looking to build on the superb victory over the Tykes. It kick-starts a run of six league games where Salop face sides currently 14th or below in League One.
But, like Tuesday, the boss will have to do without star winger Shaun Whalley for the trip to The Kassam Stadium.
And Whalley’s calf injury could see him out of action until December.
The wideman limped off towards the end of last weekend’s defeat against Sunderland.
Askey revealed the full extent of Whalley’s calf strain yesterday and said it will likely sideline him for between four and five weeks.
Town face a run of key games around clubs at the bottom of League One and Whalley will miss clashes with Oxford, AFC Wimbledon and the FA Cup tie with Salford while he will be a doubt for clashes with Rochdale, Wycombe, Plymouth and Burton.
Town’s meeting with National League leaders and Class of 92-inspired Salford has been confirmed for Sunday, November 11 (12.45pm kick-off).
The game will not be shown live but a Sunday Final Score programme on the BBC will feature updates and highlights.
