Shrewsbury Town

Academy Manager delighted by contract offers

Shrewsbury Town Academy Manager Andy Jones is delighted that the club have backed youth by offering contracts to five youth team scholars.

Ryan Sears, Callum Roberts, Chris Gallagher, George Hughes and John McAtee were all offered deals last week and Andy was grateful for the faith shown in Town’s Academy.

“It is fantastic news”, Andy told Town Talk.

“It’s great for the Academy and it just symbolises what a great club we work at. It shows what goes on behind the scenes and how the club are determined to help the youth and support the youth and support the productivity that we have.

“The club have backed us for many years before I came here, but certainly since I’ve come here they’ve backed us and we are grateful to the club that they have made the contribution and continue to back us.”


Andy was quick to praise the staff involved in the youngsters development and he hopes the players continue to grow as professionals at Shrewsbury Town.

“It’s a collective effort from everyone in the Academy”, Jones said.

“It’s a testament to every single member of staff that we’ve got that we’ve managed to do it and obviously a testament to the gaffer for installing that faith in the lads.

“Ultimately it’s down to them to prove themselves within a tough and tense environment, but like I’ve said the club support youth and I think that’s been proven by what has happened over the last couple of days and we are thankful for that.

“Five is a very good number and they have it all to prove now. They’ve done it for us and now it’s up to them to continue that into the first team environment and prove that they are good enough to be there.”


Five other players weren’t offered deals, but Andy confirmed that they club would help them in any way they can.

“I don’t see it as a negative for them, I see it as a new start”, said Andy.

“Just because they haven’t got the dream here, they will evidently go on and do well in life and whatever they go onto do.

“They are great lads. All ten lads are absolutely fantastic lads and it’s never nice to say goodbye to them, but we will certainly be monitoring them and looking out for them.

“In terms of exit routes they already have lots of routes open to them. We’ve already contacted lots of clubs, there’s the opportunity to play abroad, there’s the opportunity to go to university, so there is life after football and it’s a fresh start for them.”