Bernie McNally keen for trio to pen new Shrewsbury Town deals

Town are waiting to hear back from skipper Abu Ogogo, Alex Rodman and Lenell John-Lewis on whether they will sign new deals.

Ogogo and Rodman were key players last season under Paul Hurst, who left for Ipswich Town last month, while John-Lewis was mainly used as a substitute.

“It’d be good to see all of them stay,” said McNally, who made 279 appearances for Salop between 1980 and 1989.

“Lenell may be looking to go somewhere where he’d get some more game time. As a striker, you want to be playing games and scoring goals.

“Certainly Abu and Alex I’d want to keep as a matter of priority.

“For the squad, you’d want to keep all of them but, ultimately, the players have the power.

“Paul knows Abu and Alex very well and I reckon he’ll seriously be looking at those two, whether they can make the step up to Ipswich.

“We’ll see what happens. With the right players coming in, they can go again and push for promotion under John Askey – build on a great basis.”

Forward Arthur Gnahoua will be staying with Town after trigging a clause in his contract.

Askey is also on the lookout for a couple of goalkeepers after Dean Henderson returned to Manchester United, before being sent on loan to Sheffield United, and Craig MacGillivray turned down fresh terms to joined Portsmouth.

McNally is confident Salop will have no problem finding capable replacements because of the expertise of assistant John Filan and goalkeeping coach Danny Coyne – both former goalkeepers.

“I’m sure there’ll be deals that suddenly materialise, it’s always the case,” he said.

“With what Shrewsbury did last year, it’s a great club to come to for an experienced goalkeeper or someone younger looking to prove a point.

“I’m sure they’ll pull together and get the right keeper in.

“They is getting somebody as commanding and vocal as Dean was last year.

“It may take a bit of digging, maybe another loan deal, but I’m sure they’ll get some keepers in of high quality.”