New-boy Olly Lancashire backed to wow Town fans

The 27-year-old centre-back became Micky Mellon's first summer signing last week when he signed on a two-year deal after leaving Rochdale on a free transfer.

Departing striker Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro was a team-mate of Lancashire's at Grimsby and the pair got to know each other well.

Lancashire had two spells with the Mariners in 2009-10 on loan from his first club Southampton which coincided with Akpa Akpro's last season at Blundell Park.

The Frenchman was highly impressed with Lancashire on and off the pitch during their time together in League Two

"He's a nice guy and a very good footballer," said Akpa Akpro who was one of eight players released from the Greenhous Meadow last week.

"He's very calm on and off the pitch and I like him a lot – I got on well with him.

"Olly can cope with League One very well – he's played at this level for a few years now and he'll be a success at Shrewsbury because he's played a lot of games in League One.

"He'll play football from the back and he can be aggressive too in challenging for the ball.

"He's a good header of the ball and he can play too, so the fans should look forward to seeing him in action."

Meanwhile, Mellon has been named as one of the frontrunners for the vacant manager's job at Blackpool after Neil McDonald was sacked last week.

Mellon is listed as 9-2 second favourite behind former Wolves boss Dave Jones, who is rated 7-4.

The Town boss has lived in Blackpool for more than two decades, played there for three years from 1994-97 and managed at nearby Fleetwood for four years.

But he committed himself to Shrewsbury at the end of the season and is busy trying to sign players to rebuild his squad.

The 44-year-old is on a 12-month rolling contract and it's understood it would take a six-figure fee in compensation to prise him away. Blackpool owner Karl Oyston is thought to have only ever paid compensation for one manager – Michael Appleton, when Portsmouth were awarded around £25,000 in November 2012.