Shrewsbury comment: Sam Ricketts has a big summer ahead of him

Safety may be secured today, without kicking a ball, tomorrow at Coventry or on the final day against rivals Walsall. The sooner the better.

The maths may be a little hazy but one thing that is clear is that Sam Ricketts has a significant job on his hands turning this squad into one that can push on in League One.

Some 11 or 12 teams have been sucked into a relegation dogfight at one point or another but, realistically, Shrewsbury have been some way from breaking into the top half.

That should not be the case. The squad, particularly from January onwards, should have had enough to be more consistent. Seven points separates Town and 12th.

Three more wins could have seen them looking at a top-half finish. That should have been achievable with this group.

But for numerous reasons the players have let themselves down, thrown away leads, defended poorly as individuals and collectively and been blunt in attack. Those factors have all meant the top half has been beyond Shrewsbury this season.

Next season it should not be the case. Ricketts will know he has a big job to bring improvement to the club and most of that rests with recruitment.

Too many of the players in Town’s bloated squad this season have not done nearly enough to warrant or merit a place in Ricketts’ plans next season.

Contracts are currently being resolved, existing loans head back to parent clubs and that leaves a pool of players who are likely to move on.

Many are under contract, which makes life difficult for a manager seeking to rebuild, and Ricketts will be honest with players who haven’t featured this season and have little chance of any football next term.

The squad needs to be cut, but quality does need adding. How many players come through the door is an interesting debate – and probably rests upon how many Salop are able to ship out.

There are half a dozen Town player under contract that haven’t featured nearly as often as they will have wanted to.

Ryan Haynes, Alex Gilliead, Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Lee Angol, Romain Vincelot and Sam Jones – remember him – have a contract beyond the summer.

Some may be in the manager’s plans, most probably aren’t.

New contracts for youngsters James Rowland and Ryan Sears and a new two-year deal for Shaun Whalley have been a good start the summer business.

James Bolton in likely to follow if both parties have their way, youngster Ryan Barnett too. The futures of experienced pros Mat Sadler and Anthony Grant are up in the air.

Ricketts said in this week’s press conference that his focus is only on the remaining games and mathematically confirming safety.

That is, of course, what needs to be said. The manager knows there is a scenario where Town may still have to pick up points. He also wants to secure a decent finishing position. Ending the season 13th or 14th is – in the history books at least – a bigger achievement than 17th.

But he will have half an eye on his scouting and recruitment network. Targets will have been identified. The club cannot afford another lacklustre summer.

Fans will lose no sleep at seeing the back of the 2018/19 season and view it as the ultimate missed opportunity to build on the superb work of last season.

But all supporters can see, particularly after the dour second half against Oxford, that Ricketts’ summer to-do list is lengthy.