Bernard McNally column: Shrewsbury Town thinking ahead by bringing in Sam Ricketts
Shrewsbury have plucked the highly-rated Sam Ricketts at the early stage of his career so they don’t have to pay big money or miss out later on.
The Paul Hurst scenario went a little bit sour but now there’s a new man in with great potential. He’s very well spoken of.
I think he could be two, three or four years here and it might well be a stepping stone – but if that helps Town become better and stronger, continually going for promotion or getting to the next level, then fantastic.
I’m sure he’s going to be a big success here.
Sam did a great job at Wrexham after Dean Keates left for Walsall. He kept the ship afloat and things running smoothly.
I think he’s the type of manager, young, up-and-coming with a long career ahead of him, that suits Shrewsbury to a tee.
He’s not really well known in management with his experience but he’s one of those that the club think will be known in the next couple of years.
At the moment he’s sizing up the players and what he has at his disposal at Sundorne.
The good thing for him is that the fans will give him a couple of months. For the moment he has to deal with what he’s got, and I’m convinced that he will look for a few new players in January.
That puts the onus on to the players here to keep stepping their games up. There has been some good wins recently, Coyney has done very well, but you’ve got to look long term. They do need someone to guide them where they want to go.
He knows Coyney and Eric Ramsay, they can work together and that’s important. The continuity is very good.
I hear he likes to play his football in the right way, getting it forward.
At the end of the day it’s about getting points on the board. Sam’s had experience as a player and in academies and Wrexham. But I’m looking forward to seeing how he gets on in these home matches with Peterborough and Coventry.
Hopefully he brings new ideas, I’ve heard he can enthuse and motivate players. That’s important at the moment, someone who generates enthusiasm. Thirsty-seven is a great age to be a manager in League One.
I hope the fans see his enthusiasm and they like it. If he motivates the players, it transfers to the stands.
Fejiri Okenabirhie is rightly exciting Town fans, popping up with goals in every game. Young players flourish under a young manager’s philosophy – you can also be an elder statesman and have a modern philosophy!
It will suit players like him. He’s bang in form and a real threat, as we thought he was months ago.
