Leave or remain: The Shrewsbury Town deals are up – but who will stay?
Sam Ricketts has said he will gauge as and when to step up contract talks with Shrewsbury Town players that see their deals run out at the end of this season.
The Town boss will be assessing how he sees his side looking next season – even though he has the far bigger job of guiding them to League One survival between now and May 4.
So who may stick around next season?
Mat Sadler
Signed: May 2015
Town games: 212 (over two spells)
Likely to stay? No
Reasoning: The fans’ favourite, captain and longest-serving player – if including his 2011-2012 loan – has been frozen out in recent weeks, not featuring since February 9 and is now fourth-choice centre-back. At 34, the defender will feel he has plenty left in his legs and will want to show that. His loyalty should be rewarded.
Shaun Whalley
Signed: June 2015
Town games: 154
Likely to stay? Yes
Reasoning: There will be interest in winger Whalley, 31, still a very good League One option. He enjoys playing for the club, and could be keen to extend his stay into a fifth season. Ricketts should be working towards that.
Anthony Grant
Signed: August 2018
Town games: 41
Likely to stay? No
Reasoning: Has a year option on his deal but, having been the subject of interest in January, the 31-year-old may want another move while still a top League One midfielder.
Been one of Town’s best and most consistent performers this term but has dipped recently. Hope he turns it around.
James Bolton
Signed: July 2017
Town games: 79
Likely to stay? Yes
Reasoning: Like Whalley, solid defender Bolton is a local player Town should look at tying down. Would do a solid job in either division and dependable during his time in blue and amber.
Scott Golbourne
Signed: January 2019
Town games: 8
Likely to stay? Maybe
Reasoning: Former team-mate of Ricketts, it did seem like a stop-gap move until the summer but Golbourne, 31, has featured pretty heavily and Ricketts values his experience. May be good for squad next term.
Lenell John-Lewis
Signed: May 2017
Town games: 70
Likely to stay? No
Reasoning: The 29-year-old has started just 14 of his 70 appearances and saw this season cruelly end with a horrific knee injury against Stoke in January. Could be out until 2020. Town will support his rehab.
Reice Charles-Cook
Signed: January 2019
Town games: 0
Likely to stay? No
Reasoning: Brought in on a free as cover when Joel Coleman went back to Huddersfield. Unlikely to hang around.
Doug Loft
Signed: July 2018
Town games: 5
Likely to stay? No
Reasoning: John Askey got Loft in early last summer. Immediately obvious he’d play no part. On loan at Dagenham.
Ryan Sears
Signed: Academy graduate
Town games: 7
Likely to stay? Yes
Reasoning: A shining light. The new Wales under-21 international could have a big future and has done enough to earn a new deal.
The other youngsters
Christos Shelis, George Hughes and John McAtee have had no sign of a first-team future and are not expected to stay beyond the summer.
Attacker Ryan Barnett, on loan at AFC Telford, has impressed and is likely to stay.
