Leahy staying in League One after signing for Shrewsbury
❝ First and foremost, he scores goals and gets assists. He scored 10 goals last season from left-back
LUKE Leahy has secured his wish of remaining in League One with the former Bristol Rovers captain securing his expected move to Shrewsbury Town on a free transfer.
Left wing-back Leahy was the surprise name not to be included on Rovers’ retained list last week after he turned down the offer of a new contract in north Bristol after weeks of negotiations.
The 28-year-old finished a challenging 2020-21 campaign for the Gas as the club’s top scorer with 10 goals in all competitions and that has helped secure him a move to Shrewsbury where he’ll work under former Bristol City boss Steve Cotterill.
“First and foremost, he scores goals and gets assists. He scored 10 goals last season from left-back. He’s a great lad and a very fit boy. He has an eye for a goal and his assists are incredible really,” said Cotterill, who returned to work this month after a long battle with
Covid-19. “He is a player I’ve had my eye on for a while - myself and our scouts have looked at him extensively. We are looking forward to welcoming him to the group of players that we have here.”
Barton was determined to hold on to Leahy and make him an integral part of the Rovers squad for next season’s promotion bid in League Two, but the lure of playing in a division higher and being closer to home, with Leahy’s partner having given birth to a son in April, has proved decisive.
Leahy’s deal at Shrewsbury is also two years plus an additional 12-month club option, giving the
former Walsall defender additional security on his long-term future.
The Shropshire Star report Leahy was a target for Cotterill’s predecessor at New Meadow, Sam Ricketts, who considered signing him last
summer after he had appeared to have fallen out of favour at Rovers.
Leahy’s exit from Rovers also leaves Barton with David Tutonda as the only natural left-sided defensive player in the squad, with Ali
Koiki and Michael released last week.
The long-running joke last season being that the Gas possessed more left-backs than they did strikers (three).
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