Jamie Tolley: Will Boyle has already proved he's captain material

When Shrewsbury announced their new captain, I fully expected Boyle to get the armband.

You only had to watch Salop last season to see he had become a real leader in the team.

When John Marquis was injured and Boyle took over as captain, he really stepped up.

Rather than the responsibility weighing him down, it seemed to bring the best out of him. His performances went up another level and you could see his leadership grow as the season progressed.

That’s why I wasn’t surprised to see him handed the role permanently.

He knows exactly how Gavin Cowan wants the team to play and understands the standards expected by the coaching staff. On the pitch, he’ll be an extension of Gav, Jay and Dave, and that’s invaluable for any manager.

When you’ve got someone out there who understands your messages and can drive them throughout the team, it makes a huge difference.

Experience is priceless in football, especially in a young squad.

Some players struggle with the added responsibility that comes with wearing the captain’s armband and their performances suffer. Boyle was the complete opposite. He embraced it and thrived.

His experience and composure will be vital over the course of the season, particularly with so many young players around the first team. There will inevitably be highs and lows during a long League Two campaign, and when difficult moments arrive he’ll be one of the players the dressing room looks to for guidance.

That’s what good captains do.

Boyle led Shrewsbury out again in the friendly against West Brom and, listening to Gavin beforehand, everyone knew it was going to be a backs-to-the-wall exercise.

West Brom were always likely to dominate possession and that was exactly the sort of test the management team wanted.

Sometimes pre-season isn’t about the result. It’s about exposing players to difficult situations and seeing how they respond. This was one of those games.

It gave Gavin and his staff the opportunity to assess how the team coped without the ball.

Listening to everyone afterwards, including Boyle in his interview, they were all singing from the same hymn sheet. They knew exactly the kind of workout they were going to get and they all seemed pleased with what they took from it.

The new season is getting ever closer and Gavin is still looking to add to his squad.

First and foremost, it’s been a difficult summer in terms of recruitment for Gav and his staff. The transfer fee embargo has only made that task even harder.

Money talks. I’ve said it many times before and it's still the most important factor. Players want to see money and, if you haven’t got it, it’s much harder to bring them in. It’s been a tough challenge for him.

That said, I think he’s done some good business and I’m sure he’s hot on the heels of another couple of players. I’d love to see them come in as soon as possible because these are the signings that get everyone excited. The number 10s, the goalscorers - they’re the players who get supporters through the turnstiles.

The sooner they arrive, the better. Even if Gav has to remortgage his house to get one over the line, let’s give him a nudge if that’s what it takes!

Jokes aside. I’m sure he's done his homework and already has someone in his sights.