Town manager Paul Simpson's search for another keeper to add to his squad has come to fruition with the addition of Chris Neal.

Chris has come up through the ranks at Preston North End and signs for Town on a 3 year deal for a nominal fee. Town fans will remember Chris from his loan period with Town where he came in as cover for Ryan Esson but only got the chance to play the one game, a Johnstone Paints Trophy tie away to Hereford United.

Simmo was in a good mood when he revealed the news following Chris completing his medical: "Chris is a goalkeeper that I'm really pleased that we have managed to get into the club.

"He's a young keeper and I accept that he is inexperienced and something that people will mention but Chris has got something about him and a real good quality.

"He is a goalkeeper who can definitely go on and play at a higher level.

"I'm hoping that by coming here we can give him a stage to play on and one that will allow him to rise to that challenge and that we will get ourselves a really good keeper.

"He's had a couple of spells out on loan but hasn't played a hell of a lot of games but I do keep in touch with the staff at Preston and they he has done well. I watched him towards the end of the season and I'm hoping it is the right move for him."

Chris is a keeper highly regarded by both Simmo and by goalkeeping coach Dave Timmins who both worked with him at Preston. Simmo believes that Chris will rise to the challenge ahead of him as did Luke Daniels last season: "We both worked with Chris in our time at Preston and I actually gave him a new contract while I was there.

"I thought there was a lot in him but Chris will have to shoulder a little of the blame that he hasn't really pushed on. He hasn't really had the carrot of first team football but we are going to give him that chance now and hopefully he will rise to that and show the ability that he has got.

"He is a really calming influence on the back four and is a good talker, has fantastic kicking and distribution.

"It's a little bit like the situation when Luke Daniels came in last August where we know that there will be mistakes along the way but hope that he will develop into a good keeper."

The news brings to end Simmo's search for a keeper and with Chris, Glyn Garner and Andreas Arestidou now at club believes there will good competition for places: "We now have good competition for places in that area now and I don't need to be looking at that anymore.

"I'm just pleased that the work I have put in over the past few weeks with two or three goalkeepers have come to fruition.

"I've got to speak to them and thank them for the interest but the encouraging thing is that people I am speaking too are all very positive about wanting to join Shrewsbury Town and that is a good sign."

With Ben Davies rejecting a new contract with Town Simmo is hoping to move quickly to bring in a new face, and the Town manager is also hoping that Chris Humphrey will agree to his new contract at the club: "Ben Davies has told me that he isn't going to come back to the club so wish him all the best for the work he did and move on.

"There is one more piece that I hope to add and we have another medical planned for later today.

"I'm still hoping that Chris Humphrey will be putting pen to paper but I have to patient and wait.

"If Chris hasn't signed by the weekend then we won't take him to Spain for the training camp and he will stay here and training with Nigel to keep himself ticking over.

"Fingers crossed that he will be out there with us in Spain and preparing for the start of season with Shrewsbury."

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