Ex-Rotherham captain Sharps joins Shrewsbury Town

New boss Graham Turner has completed the first signing of his second spell at Shrewsbury Town snapping up out-of-contract Rotherham captain Ian Sharps.

The 29-year-old defender has rejected a new contract with the Millers to sign a two-year deal at the Greenhous Meadow.

Sharps, a 6ft 3ins centre-back, played almost 200 games for Tranmere Rovers before joining Rotherham in August 2006.

He has had two spells as skipper since then, racking up another 188 appearances for the south Yorkshire club.

"He's had a good two seasons at Rotherham and, in particular last season, where he captained them to Wembley," said Turner.

"He's got good attributes for a central defender and he's looked like a leader when I've seen him play, so I'm delighted with that one.

"For a central defender he's just coming into his peak and we are also getting the benefit of someone who has played more than 300 League matches."

Earning

Rotherham are certainly disappointed to be losing the experienced defender after their play-off final defeat.

Boss Ronnie Moore said: "We have offered him a good deal which would have made him the second highest earning player at the club, so we tried our best to keep him here but he has opted to move to Shrewsbury."

A striker is now Turner's priority after Dave Hibbert move to Peterborough.

Town's options are further limited, with Nathan Elder sidelined for up to nine months and New Zealand striker Kris Bright booked in for surgery.

"Kris is having a shoulder operation on Saturday and is going to be out for the start of the season," he revealed.

"That was a surprise to me, and it is an area where we need to bring people in."

• Town have been drawn in a group with Ilfracombe and Conference side Rushden & Diamonds in the first phase of the pre-season Joma South West Challenge Cup. The games are on Monday, July 19 and Wednesday, July 21 (both 7.45pm at Ilfracombe).

By CHRIS HUDSON