Exclusive: Outgoing Shrewsbury hero Dave Edwards considers part-time game
Outgoing Shrewsbury Town favourite Dave Edwards does not expect to remain in full-time football – but has left the door open on extending his career.
Edwards, 35, was last week told he will be released upon the end of his contract this summer and has said he is looking forward to supporting his boyhood club from the stands next season.
The former Wales international midfielder – who racked up 218 games in his two spells at the club initially having risen through the academy – revealed he is yet to decide whether to continue playing part-time football, where the commitment is not as great, but he can continue playing for his love of the sport.
Edwards told the Shropshire Star: “I’m going to take some time and mull over what happened last week, to not make any rash decisions, that’s the key thing,
“I’m obviously disappointed that my Shrewsbury journey is over as a player, but it wasn’t a big surprise. I’d made my mind up earlier in the year what would come next if football wasn’t there.
“I’m fully ready for life after football but just have to think whether I’m fully ready to hang up the boots and not play again. I could say for definite I won’t be joining any club on a full-time basis, I want to start to transition into the next stage of my life. But I do think I’ll miss football, so if there’s options on a part-time basis I don’t want to shut those off.
“I think I’ll know in a month’s time what’s next.”
Pontesbury-born Edwards will not rule out coaching in the future, but is looking forward to time with his young family and pursuing his business ventures in the immediate future.
“It was sad I had the changing room side of it taken away from me this year, as we couldn’t go inside much,” Edwards added. “I’ll miss the changing room banter with the lads with I’ve enjoyed so much.
“But it’s the playing football side of it. So many people have had to give up because their bodies have let them down and I don’t think I’m at that point yet.
“I don’t think playing for another year will affect my long-term health in terms of knees, legs and ankles. So many people say ‘play as long as you can’ but I have no urge to join a club I’ll be travelling to every single day and having to commit so much time.”
