Shrewsbury Town appoint new physical performance coach

Wates, who worked with Salop's manager Gareth Ainsworth and his assistant Richard Dobson at Wycombe and Queens Park Rangers, has been added to the staff at their Sundorne Castle training base.

Ainsworth was appointed as Paul Hurst's replacement last week, and while he does not want to change any of the other staff, he is pleased to bring long-term colleague Wates to the club.

"He is a really experienced staff member," Ainsworth said."He is also a licensed coach, so he has a bit of football knowledge, but his main strength is fitness, conditioning and injury prevention.

"He will add a real good energy around the place as well. Dave has been with me both at Wycombe and QPR.

"With him and Dobbo and myself here, hopefully, there will be a little bit of change in the dynamics and the energy. 

"It's important to get these people in, having said that, there are no changes at the moment planned for the staff in the other areas.

"I'm very happy, they've all been great as I came in and, hopefully, we can just add to the team that we've got."

Wates first worked with Dobson in 2007 when Ainsworth was a player at Wycombe and he has explained what he will add to Salop.

“My role here is to take on board some of the physical loading," he said. "It’s about adding to the program. 

“I know how Gareth and Richard like to operate. And what we want to do is replicate some of the fantastic days we had at Wycombe. 

“We had a lot of success. It was a small group, a tight group and everybody enjoyed coming into work. 

“We had some great times on the pitch and we had some great times off the pitch. And that’s what we want to do here.“It seems like a really good group. Considering how the season has been so far and the position we are in – there is a good spirit. 

“And I think everyone is ready to get working and come together.”