Liam Lawrence quits Shrewsbury Town
Captain Liam Lawrence today quit Shrewsbury Town – with Tyrone Barnett the third forward to leave as the club were linked with two more players.
Captain Lawrence has joined for League Two promotion-chasers Bristol Rovers in a permanent deal to the summer.
The 34-year-old, who was due to be out of contract this summer, becomes the third player to leave in this window after strikers James Collins and Liam McAlinden.
Now a fourth – and third striker – in Barnett has followed as boss Micky Mellon frees up funds to strengthen.
The 30-year-old, who cost Town £100,000 from Peterborough a year ago, has linked up with League One rivals Southend.
Barnett, who scored the last of his six goals this term to rescue a point at Posh on December 12, has struggled for regular starts this term.
Mellon insists the shake-up of his forward line is a must to inject more pace and goals, saying: "The front players haven't scored enough.
"We need to score more. We need pace. Everybody doing well in this league is very quick at the top end of the pitch."
Mellon has confirmed the return of Andy Mangan from Tranmere– the paperwork is still to go through – but more activity is expected.
The latest two to be linked are Northampton midfielder Lawson D'Ath and Sheffield United left-back Terry Kennedy.
D'Ath, 23, has scored four goals in 26 games for Northampton this season but is understood to be available.
Town have holes to fill in central midfield, with Abu Ogogo out for up to six weeks and Lawrence departing.
Kennedy, 22, is highly-rated at Bramall Lane where he's played 19 league games and is known to Mellon from Barnsley's youth system.