Shrewsbury CEO Brian Caldwell labels report of John Askey's impending exit 'a pack of lies' in furious response
Shrewsbury Town CEO Brian Caldwell has issued a furious response at a national newspaper – describing an article claiming Salop wish to sack John Askey as ‘a total fabrication’ and a ‘pack of lies’.
The Sun claimed in today’s paper that Shrewsbury want to fire Askey, but are yet to agree a pay-off with the manager who was only appointed in summer.
Caldwell has responded with an astonishing interview on the club’s website, confirming he will give the journalist ‘a piece of my mind’.
“It’s horrible to be honest with you,” said Caldwell. “It’s a total fabrication. There’s absolutely no truth in any of it.
“I've done a lot of digging and the journalist responsible is quite well known for throwing a load of stories in and hoping to get a couple out there.
“I’ll probably have a conversation with him today if I can get a hold of his number, and give him a piece of my mind.
“It’s just malicious. Absolutely no truth in it at all and it’s just disappointing.
“The paper have run a story without even checking with us or asking for a comment, which makes it even more ridiculous.
“I get journalists have got to earn a living by putting stories out. I’ve seen it before where teams will try and unsettle you before a game.
“We’ve had it before where a team will throw a story out to try and unsettle you. But this is just a journalist who is trying to create a story out of nothing.”
Askey endured a difficult start to his Shrewsbury tenure but he has won two of the last three league games.
The Sun claim Salop are ready to give him the axe, but are unwilling to pay his severance package and are trying to negotiate it down.
“He’s just decided to make a story up as he goes along,” said Caldwell. “It’s not worthy of any more comments. There’s no truth in it and it’s just a pack of lies.”
Caldwell also spoke about the ongoing pressure on John Askey’s future in the past couple of weeks.
“This is the problem with social media,” he said. “There are so many rumours and bits and bobs that are put out, of which none of it is usually true.
“People just put stuff out and then other people start believing it and it starts to grow arms and legs.”
