Under-fire Shrewsbury boss John Askey unmoved by 'irrelevant' talk of his future
John Askey feels his own uncertain future as Shrewsbury manager is ‘irrelevant’ after admitting a 3-0 hammering at Oxford was a necessary kick up the backside.
Pressure on the under-fire chief cranked up after Town’s poorest display of the season so far saw the hosts ease to a comfortable win on their 125th anniversary.
Prior to last Saturday’s 2-0 Sunderland reverse, Askey’s Town has not lost a game by more than the odd goal. But they were undone convincingly at the Kassam Stadium after conceding two sloppy goals inside the first 14 minutes.
Askey admitted it was back to square one for his side after last Tuesday’s fine win over promotion hopefuls Barnsley. Town are 19th, just a point above the drop zone, with 15 points from 16 league games.
A dejected Askey said: “Hopefully by conceding more than the odd goal will give one or two people a kick up the backside, including myself, and make us realise that we’ve got to do more, got to do better.”
The boss questioned his players’ careers and desire.
He added: “The only time I’ve said anything about the desire was the first half against Fleetwood and I felt as though I had something to do with that.
“At Oxford it was down to one or two of us not starting and if you don’t start and have the right attitude then it’s hard to get going.
“I don’t think it matters who you’re playing if you play like that. After we played Barnsley we should have loads of confidence but we’re back to square one
.”
Salop have won just three games from 16 under Askey. The Oxford fixture began a run of six games against struggling sides in League One. Second-bottom AFC Wimbledon lie ahead on Saturday.
Askey was unmoved on his future, adding: “
It’s irrelevant about myself. You worry at other times, but straight after it’s more about how we played and the performance.”
