Shrewsbury Town boss Paul Simpson has refused to rule out making a move for experienced defender Graeme Lee, who has been released by Doncaster Rovers – while he also revealed there’s money available to enhance his efforts to strengthen his squad.
Simpson is keen to add to his two summer recruits, Paul Murray and Steve Hindmarch, and disclosed funds are available to help him bring in the players who will help Town significantly improve on last season’s 18th placed finish in League Two.
“There’s nothing to say we’re only going to be signing free transfers,” said Simpson. “The chairman has been very supportive and he wants to be successful.
“We can’t go silly and spend fortunes but if there are players we want that we can pay nominal fees for, then we’re in a position to do that.
“We want to have a good go this season and, while nothing can be guaranteed, we want to show the fans that we are going to have a good go at it.”
Simpson added that Lee, 29, whose loan spell with Town last season was cut short by injury, was one of the players he was considering as a possible addition to his squad, but stopped short of saying the ex-Doncaster club captain was a definite target.
“He’s one of a number of players I might speak to and see what their thoughts are,” said Simpson. “No offer has been made to Graeme Lee, and the PFA list of available players came out on Monday so I’m looking through that.
“I had conversations with Graeme between him leaving here and Doncaster’s Wembley appearance. I’ve not spoken to him since he left Doncaster, but it’s something I may do.”
Simpson is known to admire Lee’s leadership qualities and he possesses the characteristics he admires in players.
“There’s nothing to report at all at the moment,” he said. “There are lots of things that are going on. I’m still talking to people and I’m keen to get things moving.”
Simpson added he was already looking forward to the start of pre-season training early next month: “You want to get back into it,” he said.
“The programmes we gave to the players at the end of last season started on Monday so hopefully they’re keeping to them. It’s an exciting time, especially with the league fixtures coming out next week.”
Simpson added there were no imminent departures likely: “I’ve had a few phone calls but nothing that I want to do,” he said.
Simpson, meanwhile, has put the finishing touches to his backroom team with Nathan Ring stepping up to first team physio from the youth set-up while keen supporter Pete Downward has returned for a second spell as kit man, replacing Ryan King in the role.
Town will discover their Carling Cup first round opponents when the draw is made tomorrow (Friday, 10am) with their League Two fixture list revealed on Monday (10am).
