Football Season Guide

After finishing second in League Two last season, trailing only a very strong Swindon side, Shrewsbury might've been expected to push for promotion in League One this term. That would've been the case had their best players not opted to go for more lucrative contracts, as captain Ian Sharps, vice-captain Shane Lewis Cansdell-Sherriff, midfielder Nicky Wroe, striker James Collins and keepers Chris Neal and Ben Smith all left club over the summer. Following their departures, experienced manager Graham Turner was made to work hard during the summer transfer window, and has brought in a number of interesting signings, with the most prominent ones being Leicester keeper Chris Weale and Preston winger Paul Parry. Shrews don't really have a lot of League One experience in their squad, but will nonetheless be optimistic of doing well in the division, after doing very well in their pre season games, and given the fact that in Graham Turner they have a very experienced boss who is a master of exploiting the loan market. Also, Turner will have a point to prove this season after enduring a torrid time the last time he managed in League One, which was with his former club Hereford four years ago. What we can expect of Shrewsbury is to insist on playing football "the right way" and for the loan market to be heavily used during injury-struck periods and spells of poor form.