Dave Edwards: Shrewsbury departures give Paul Hurst the opportunity to build again

It does leave a huge hole in the playing squad, that is for sure, but that will be a good thing for Paul Hurst to have a team of his own, and they can really try to build a connection with the fans.

He will be working closely with Micky Moore as they try to recruit a squad more in the mould of how he wants to play.

Out of the players who have been released I think Tom Flanagan and Tom Bayliss are two of the more senior players who have played a lot more this season, but from a financial point of view, I would imagine their wages would be quite high, so you can understand why that decision has been made. It has not quite worked out for Aiden O’Brien. He will be another player who will be at the top end of the wage bill at Shrewsbury – so that makes sense.

I was a tad surprised to see Ryan Bowman go. I think he has been a good servant to the club.

I think as a bit-part player he has been very good. He has been living away from home for a long time now so it might be good for him to try and find a club and settle down while being guaranteed more first-team football.

Elliott Bennett has had a fantastic career, and he might be thinking about possible retirement. He is another one which I would compare to my situation a few years ago when I finished playing at Shrewsbury.

I am sure he would have had conversations with the manager. I don’t know where his head is at with it all, but I am sure if there was an opportunity to stay on reduced terms and really see out of the last knockings of his career I am sure both parties will have looked at that.

He will be a miss in the dressing as a leader more than anything else. He was someone who knew his role within the team and would not have kicked up a fuss if he was not starting every week, but would be really important for the younger players around him. If it is the end, then I want to congratulate him on what has been a fabulous career.

I was sad to see Harry Burgoyne go. He will most likely be in search of first-team football somewhere after spending a few years without playing. He has been a big part of that dressing room since when I was there and he has continued to do so – I am sure the training ground will be a quieter place in his absence.

Out of the players who have been offered contracts I am pretty sure that Aaron Pierre and Mal Benning will both sign – Mal has had a terrific end to the season.

Marko Marosi and Chey Dunkley are the ones that I think would walk into pretty much any League One team.

They have been the most consistent players over the last two seasons. Dunkley is a real leader and you can see that with the way he carries himself on the pitch.

It is obvious now the news has come out, especially with the club having an option to keep them, they need to cut the wage bill down.

You are hoping their love for the football club and other things around it are good enough to convince them to sign, and I hope they do. g their love for the football and other things around it are good enough to convince them to sign and I hope they do.