Chairman wants Shrews fans to play a part

After a morale-boosting four-point haul from recent trips to Milton Keynes Dons and Crewe, the Salop supremo has issued a rallying call ahead of tomorrow's vital home clash with struggling Oldham.

It is the first of seven remaining fixtures from which boss Graham Turner suspects Town may need to pick up seven or even eight points to be certain of staying out of the bottom four on April 27.

The Latics, under new manager Lee Johnson, beat Hartlepool on Tuesday night to move out of the drop zone and heap the pressure on Shrewsbury whose performances at the Greenhous Meadow have tailed off this year.

But with vocal backing, Wycherley is convinced his players can make the most of the visits of Oldham, Crawley, Bournemouth and Portsmouth.

"It's in our own hands," said the Town chairman. "And each match will be our own cup final.

"Our home gates have held up well in difficult economic times and our away following has been superb. Graham and the players speak highly of the uplifting effect vocal support gives to the team, so we can all play our part."

Wycherley has backed Turner with funds to enter the loan market this term and he insists the club have a long-term goal of attaining Championship football.

Turner, meanwhile, has been juggling his squad ahead of next week's deadline. He has offloaded striker Luke Rodgers, who left by mutual consent yesterday after thrashing out an agreement on the remainder of his contract.

The arrival of impressive Bolton loanee Tom Eaves had pushed the 31-year-old, who last started at Preston on February 2, further down the pecking order.

Turner hopes to extend Eaves' loan, which expires after tomorrow's game. And he has circulated the details of several youngsters, including Tom Bradshaw and Ryan Woods.