Gareth Ainsworth outlines how Shrewsbury Town's recruitment works

It is closing in on three months since Ainsworth took over as Salop boss, with form much improved since the 51-year-old's arrival.

Alongside Ainsworth, director of football, Micky Moore and head of recruitment, Tom Ware also have a big say in the decisions that are made. 

Seven players have left Shropshire this month, while three new ones have joined, and Harrison Biggins has also returned from his loan at Carlisle. 

And while the former Queens Park Rangers and Wycombe Wanderers boss has been putting his 'own stamp' on things, he says everyone is playing their part behind the scenes. 

"We all work together. Every club is different, the way they do their recruitment," the head coach said. 

"I've come here and I want to try and get my stamp on things as much as what's here already. 

"I can't go into the detail of it because it's all private behind-the-scenes stuff, but I really want to get involved and sort of put my stamp on how I want to do things as well as what's here already.

"The director of football, again, we've spoken about this job and this title. It ranges from club to club. Some will be involved in recruitment, some won't.

"Some will be involved in the academy, and some will be involved in player models and training models and everything. It really does differ. 

"I always keep my stuff private. It's what I do. We work hard to try and get the next players in.

"But it's tough, and obviously where we are it's not easy keeping up with this league. I think, and I keep reiterating it, but we are probably the smallest club in the league resource-wise. 

"That's nobody's fault because everyone else has got bigger and better and flown, and it's really, really tough to keep up."

Town's defeat to Charlton on Saturday meant they returned to the bottom of the League One table.

And it is so tight down there - one win could take them within four points of 20th-placed Northampton.

Ainsworth has always been adamant that Shrewsbury will not drop into League Two, and he remains hopeful of a couple of new signings before the window closes.

"We'll do our best that we can," he continued. "I believe that we'll punch above our weight, and we won't go down this season.

"I still think there'll be four teams below us at the end of the season. And it's my job to get these signings in, to get this squad playing in the right way.

"We've got other ways to win games. We've got other attributes that don't cost money. And that's going to get us level on this year.

"I'm hoping to get a couple more in. I want to try, and get a couple more signings in. Whether we can do that or not, we'll see."