Decisions for Steve Cotterill as he confirms Shrewsbury Town plans
It’s set to be a busy couple of days at Shrewsbury Town.
Manager Steve Cotterill today begins individual talks with all of his senior squad to reveal whether or not they feature in his plans moving forward.
That includes decisions on whether the remaining 12 out of contract players – now Shaun Whalley and Scott Golbourne’s futures are resolved – will be at Montgomery Waters Meadow next season.
Cotterill will also speak with loan players Matthew Pennington and Harry Chapman, who are set to depart Everton and Blackburn respectively.
We assess the squad and decisions ahead for the boss.
Goalkeepers
Matija Sarkic’s loan has ended and the Montenegrin is back with Wolves, leaving Cotterill a big void to fill between the sticks.
Town have, by and large, used loans to source their No.1 of late and it will be interesting to see whether the boss opts for something more permanent.
Harry Burgoyne remains under contract and played 23 times this season. Ludlow’s Burgoyne improved as the campaign developed but still needs to show the boss he can push for first choice.
Defenders
Cotterill is likely to look to the back three and wing-back option that proved so successful at Bristol City and helped Shrews recover in the winter, though a 4-3-3 has also been useful in recent months.
Ro-Shaun Williams is the only centre-half whose terms expire. He was an ever-present until being dropped late in the campaign and it looks unlikely he will be at the club next season.
The defender’s durability in clocking up nearly 100 games for Town in just over two years will put clubs on alert.
Aaron Pierre is a classy operator in League One and has commanded interest from higher up before. He does have admirers, but was unfortunate in missing the final three months injured. Pierre’s deal runs until 2022, so Town may have a decision to make there.
Ethan Ebanks-Landell remains under contract and has been steady under Cotterill. The boss may well be tempted to move for loanee Matthew Pennington, who has impressed since January and is keen to stay.
At wing-back, Donald Love is likely to depart, leaving Cotterill in the market for a right-sided defender, as well as cover for Nathanael Ogbeta on the left. A decision is to be made on youngster Ryan Sears who at 22 may need to find football elsewhere, though he may be a useful home-grown element of the squad.
Midfielders
Probably the position Town are best stocked.
In player of the year-in-waiting Josh Vela and skipper Ollie Norburn they have a fine midfield base with scope to add players of different qualities to it.
A big call will be that of Sean Goss. The former Manchester United youngster has been reborn under Cotterill and added more strings to his bow, operating in advanced midfield rather than his previous deep-lying role.
Goss’s passing range and set-piece qualities are among the best in the league. And Cotterill will have to make a call on the 25-year-old’s future. Like Williams, he could go elsewhere and thrive.
Cotterill will also weigh up a call on David Davis. The ex-Birmingham favourite has been highly impressive in a number of roles since arriving in January. He has even caught the eye at right wing-back, showing versatility and is a fine professional.
Hometown hero Dave Edwards is another conundrum. Edwards, 35, has been effective from the bench of late and his experience and professionalism could be of use.
Decisions also must be made on Brad Walker, who has shown his capability in two roles, and youngsters Ryan Barnett and James Rowland.
Forwards
Likely to be the department with the most surgery carried out.
Cotterill has centre-forwards Daniel Udoh and Curtis Main out of contract. It is unlikely both will be retained for next season,while the boss must decide which, if either, carry enough value as a squad option. They managed just five and two goals, respectively.
Shaun Whalley’s extra year has filled one of the forward roles, and Town will try to persuade Harry Chapman, this season’s loan star, to choose Salop as his destination.
Veteran Leon Clarke will depart and Town also have Rekeil Pyke, who was hardly given a sniff all season, leaving centre-forward the very clear and obvious area to target.
A goalscoring No.9 costs the most – and is so often where games are won or lost and indeed where seasons can be defined.
