More From Teamtalk -

Swap talk mooted ««

Trialist Karl Murray may sign for the Blades as part of a swap deal that would see Jon Cullen's loan period at Shrewsbury become permanent.
Murray arrived at Bramall Lane on trial earlier in the week after impressing Adrian Heath during the recent Worthington Cup games between the two clubs.
Murray is just 17 and a second year Youth Trainee at Gay Meadow who is really starting to find his feet in the professional game. If he impresses whilst at Bramall Lane Heath may endeavour to sign the player from on a permanent basis.
Cullen, meanwhile, is on loan at Shrewsbury and unwanted at the Blades.
United paid £300,000 for him when he arrived from Hartlepool but would probably accept around £150,000. However, even the latter figure is to much for the Shrews, who have next to no money to spend in the transfer market; hence the mooted swap deal. The Shrews would get an experienced player to bolster their squad and the Blades would not only prune the wage bill but would also acquire a talented youngster.

From www.teamtalk.com

From Sheffield United Pages -

Shrewsbury midfielder on trial

Adrian Heath has taken Shrewsbury midfielder Karl Murray on trial.
Murray impressed the Blades boss when the sides met in the First Round
of the Worthington Cup and Heath would like to take a closer look.
The 17-year-old has made only three appearances for Shrewsbury, two of them were against the Blades in the League cup.
Murray looked a strong, fast midfielder who wasn't afraid to run with the ball and take on defenders.
He will spend a week with United as Heath thinks whether to make the move a permanent one or not.

From Port Vale Pages -

Barker set for Shrews

Out-of-favour midfielder Simon Barker is being lined up for possible move to Third Division Shrewsbury Town.
The veteran playmaker may leave Vale Park for the Shrews when his contract expires in November.
Barker was approached by Shrewsbury in the summer with a player/coach role but Vale boss Brian Horton wanted him to stay for the time-being offering the possibility of more games under his belt.
But the former QPR and Blackburn Rovers man has been left out of the squad during the last few games and is now ready to resurrect the move when he ends his spell at Vale.

The new home kit will be available from the shop on 20th August, the kits will arrive in the late afternoon and the club shop will be open to 20:00.

See Shrewsbury Town Online Shop for more details.

Town have signed midfielder/striker Jon Cullen on loan from Sheffield United.

Born: Durham, 10/1/73
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 12st
Playing Position: Midfielder/striker
Previous Club: Hartlepool United

Profile

A Doncaster Rovers trainee Jon was released two years later and after a brief spell with Spennymoor opted to travel round the world.

On his return he turned out for Morpeth Town before joining Hartlepool where he shone finishing their top scorer for three consecutive seasons.

Blades were alerted to him and swooped at the end of January 1998 to sign him for 250,000. With the competition for first team places at a premium at Bramall Lane Jon has so far been limited to just a couple of substitute appearences and could be heading out of the Lane this summer as United look to reduce their wage bill.

http://www.sheffutd.co.uk/99_00/squad/cullen.htm

Town will play TNS in a friendly on Saturday 31st July, 3.00pm kick off.

Ed Humprey's supplied the following 'Take the road from Shrewsbury to Alberbury, Four Crosses signposted then for Llansantffraid. Ground is at Treflan. Go into village from Four Crosses, turn left after crossing river bridge, then Treflan about 200 yards on right behind Treflan housing estate.

Mark Winstanley has signed a 1 year contract with Town.

Dates for your diary -

Nationwide League starts 7th August

AXA-Sponsored FA Cup

1st rd: 30th October
2nd rd: 20th November
3rd rd: 11th December
4th rd: 8th January
5th rd: 29th January
6th rd: 19th February
Semi-Finals: 9th April
Final: 20th May

Charity Shield: 1st August

Worthington Cup

1st rd: 1st leg - 11th August, 2nd leg - 25th August
2nd rd: 1st leg - 15th September, 2nd leg - 22nd September
3rd rd: 13th October
4th rd: 1st December
5th rd: 15th December
Semi-Finals: 1st leg - 12th January, 2nd leg - 26th January
Final: 27th February

Auto Windscreens Shield

1st rd: 8th December
2nd rd: 12 January
Quarter-Finals: 26th January
Semi-Finals: 16th February
Area-Finals: 1st leg - 1st March, 2nd leg - 15th March
Final: 16th April

LEAGUE REVERT TO GOAL DIFFERENCE
By David Anderson, PA Sport

The Football League has voted to revert to goal difference rather than goals scored to separate teams next season.

The League has also voted to introduce players' names and squad numbers on shirts, following the lead of the Premiership.

Using goals scored in the Nationwide League had caused some controversy and at their AGM at the Carden Park Hotel, near Chester, on Saturday the League decided to revert to goal difference.

The change comes too late to help Bury, who were relegated to the Second Division on goals scored.

They finished level on points with Port Vale and if goal difference had applied the Potteries club would have gone down instead.

League spokesman Peter Rowe explained that members felt goals scored had not produced the attacking football hoped for when it was introduced.

"The League has voted to replace goals scored with goal difference, which brings us back in line with the Premier League and UEFA," he said.

"When goals scored was brought in it was seen as a way of encouraging attacking football.

"But the statistics show it has not really made any difference at all. Of all the relegation and promotion issues last season, Bury's relegation from the First Division is the only one which would have been different."

About the shirts issue, Rowe added: "As from next season all the clubs will be using squad names and numbers a la Premier League and that was universally approved by all the clubs.

"A lot of people watch the Premier League and then when they watch the Football League they notice differences like that.

"It's an opportunity for the League to develop a higher degree of brand awareness.

"It also gives clubs the marketing opportunity to develop local heroes, like Lee Hughes at West Brom."

In a third move, the League has fallen into the line with the Premiership, Football Association and UEFA over substitutes and from next season teams will be able to use three of five players on the bench.

© PA Sporting Life

Ex player news -

Ian Stevens has joined Wrexham on a free transfer.

Benny Gall is reported to have joined Aberdeen.

Town have been drawn against Sheffield United in the Worthington Cup, The First leg will be played at Brammel Lane week commencing August 9 and the Second leg will be played at Gay Meadow the week commencing August 23.

Town today announced that Chief Executive Andrew Burman's contract will not be extended and he will leave the club. His position will be filled by Alan Jones and an internal restructuring of existing personnel.

The fixtures for next season will be published tomorrow, we'll put them up as soon as we get them.

Town's pre season tour of Ireland will take place between July 14-17, with Town playing Shelbourne on the 14th and and another team on the 16th.

At a press conference today at Gay Meadow Town announced plans to leave their present ground , Gay Meadow, and move to a brand new stadium.

The ground will be on a 32 acre site out at Meole Brace on the A5, near to Sainsburys.

It's a partnership between Town and property developer Alaska Estates Limited.

For the full details please read the Press Releases Section.

I've started a new section of the webpages where we'll be trying to keep you up to date with happenings with the New Stadium, as well as allowing the club to know about the fans feelings and suggestions.

Follow to the link to The New Stadium.

From Teamtalk webpages -

Striker move mooted ««

Port Vale have today been linked with a move for Shrewsbury striker Lee Steele, one of the most highly-rated players in the Third Division.
Brian Horton has his sights set on a couple more new signings this summer, having already agreed a deal for Brighton's Jeff Minton.
Reports abound that Horton is preparing a £250,000 bid for Steele, which would certainly tempt Shrewsbury's resolve to keep hold of him.

Shrewsbury Town today announced that they will not be increasing admission proces for the 1999/2000 season, a price freeze for the third year running.

For the full details please read the Press Releases Section.

Next season first game will be played at home on August 7th.

On Tuesday August 3rd Shrewsbury Town will play host to England U16 v Sweden U16 in the Nordic Trophy.

News from the Presentation night at the Lord Hill

Away Supporters -
Player of the year - Paul Edwards
Most improved player:- Gareth Hanmer

Junior Blues -
Player of the year - Paul Edwards
runner up (one vote in it):- Kevin Seabury

The Shrewsbury Town Internet Mailing List end of season voting produced the following results -

Player of the year was Aussie runner-up Lee Steele.
Most improved player was Eddie runner-up Mickey.
Best prospect was Lee Steele runner-up was tied between Tretton and Glyn Thompson.

The retain list has been published -

The following players have been released.

Brian Gayle
Devon White
Mark Williams
Anthony Briscoe
Craig Poutney

The following players have been offered 1 Year Contracts

Craig Herbert
Mickey Brown

The following player has been offered a 3 Year Contract

Kevin Seabury

The next meeting of Shrewsbury Town Independent Football Supporters Club will take place this Saturday 1st at 13:30 in The Castle pub in Coleman.

For more details and directions goto the STIFSA website.

The Shrewsbury Town Independent Football Supporters Club website is now up and running, it's in its infancy at the moment but will grow as the supporters club grows.

See the Supporters Clubs page for more details.

Fanzine updates -

The next issue of A Large Scotch will be on sale before the Exeter game on 17th April.

The next Issue of The Meadow Mouthpiece will be sale before the Exeter game on 17th April and before the Rotherham game on 20th April.

Every fancied having an email address which shows your a true Town fan, well now you can thanks to 'shrewsburytown.net'.

Follow this link to shrewsburytown.net to get more info on how you can get an email address such as 'ian@shrewsburytown.net'