ANDREW GREENWAY

Last season was a season of disappointing, dribbly despair. This season will be different because our captain ( Ethan Ebanks- Landell), a modern legend ( Shaun Whalley), a senior centre- back ( Aaron Pierre) and our two best midfielders of recent times ( Josh Vela and David Davis) have all moved on. The overhaul is coming, but these were important players.

Our key player will be Matthew Pennington [ above]. With two key defenders having left, a lot now rests on his and Tom Flanagan’s shoulders.

Our most underrated player is Danny Udoh, who just gets better and better. The fans back him and we hope that he steps up to become the main man.

The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is that Steve Cotterill [ below] will always have sympathy and affection for what he experienced during COVID, and despite how poorly he was, he still supported assistant manager Aaron Wilbraham throughout. I hope he turns it around.

If he left, he should be replaced by

Sean Dyche. He’d love it! It’d be a new challenge, he’s used to working on a shoestring budget, and he grew up nearby( ish). Failing that: Ian Holloway.

Fans think our owner is new and we’re still getting to know him. After years of Roland Wycherley’s careful, sensible, sustainable leadership, we’re intrigued how Shrews will look under Paul Delves. I’m least looking forward to playing

Derby, and it’s probably the same for most teams’ fans. A fantastic stadium, a very large club… it’s been sad to see the state they’ve been in.

Fans think our ground is great – a little out of the way, and nothing will replace Gay Meadow, but a good little stadium with a cracking atmosphere. And the food is improving!

Look out for Tom Bloxham – though maybe I should refer to him as Tim Blixham so that rival clubs won’t start looking to poach him! What a player he’s going to be; his attitude is superb. The active player I’d love to have

back is Rangers’ Connor Goldson, a great pro who has had an excellent career. He should come home!

The one change I’d make would be to give Sib in the club shop a pay rise! We’ll finish 17th.

FFT VERDICT

18TH

Clearly big Coventry fans, Shrews have bought Jordan Shipley and added Julien Dacosta on loan, also signing Cov academy midfielder Tom Bayliss from Preston. Salop’s strikers did enough last season to suggest this new creativity will aid their output, but depth is lacking.