Shaun Whalley keen to stay at Shrewsbury

The Town flyer turns 34 in August and is out of contract at Montgomery Waters Meadow but remains one of Town’s star turns and most dangerous attackers.

Whalley, who was signed by Micky Mellon in 2015, is the club’s longest-serving player by some distance and has racked up 210 appearances in blue and amber. He went on a lethal run of four goals in eight games shortly before the Covid-enforced break.

The Shrews favourite is currently studying for his Uefa B coaching badge, but has no thoughts about retiring from playing yet, instead keen to further extend his lengthy stay at the club.

Honest

Asked if he would like to stay at Shrewsbury beyond the summer, he said: “Yes, of course. I am being honest with that, I would like to stay but we’ll just see. I’m in no rush.”

Fellow Town favourite Dave Edwards, who is a year-and-a-half Whalley’s senior, last week admitted he is considering hanging up his boots at the end of his deal in the summer.

“No, to be honest with you,” was Whalley’s response when asked if he had considered retirement. “I think in the position I am, I’m still playing every week, I still feel fresh, still feel fit.

“I’m not really concerned that my contract is up in the summer, what will be will be.

“I do want to go down the coaching route, I started my Uefa B (licence) in the summer and I’m just trying to get my badges now.

“So hopefully when I do retire I’m ready to go into that stage of my life.”

Whalley has been completing ‘classroom’ sessions on football philosophy and player ID online on Zoom, towards his coaching badges.

The pandemic has denied him the chance to carry out many practical coaching sessions, though his group were able to do a couple when restrictions were eased. Shrews chief Steve Cotterill will face a number of decisions in the summer as Edwards and Whalley are joined by first-team regulars Daniel Udoh and Ro-Shaun Williams out of contract.

Also seeing their deals expire are Scott Golbourne, Donald Love, Brad Walker and Sean Goss.