Improved set up impresses Graham Turner
Shrewsbury Town manager Graham Turner has taken the decision for the club's reserve team to return to the Central League this season.
Town opted to pull out 12 months ago and instead played a series of behind closed doors matches against clubs like Wolves, Birmingham, Coventry and Crewe.
But, having been impressed with the new criteria of the reserve league, Shrewsbury have now decided to rejoin for the 2012-13 season.
The main attraction, the manager said, was the need for all member clubs to play fixtures on their home grounds instead of hosting matches at local non-League grounds.
Graham added: "The season we withdrew we were going to, with the greatest of respect, places like Radcliffe Borough and Chorley after long journeys.
"I don't think they were the best of places for young players to be playing.
"One of the criteria is we'll now be playing on the main grounds and it is of great benefit to young players who are trying to make progress to be playing on the big pitches. As a manager, you get a better view of the action so that was a consideration.
"We're probably more centrally based now with the other teams that will probably be in our section, the likes of Walsall, Port Vale, Wrexham and Tranmere.
"There is a better quality of fixtures, better pitches to play on and less travel. These circumstances appeal to me."
The boss also feels the new-look reserve team league can only help enhance the development of Shrewsbury's younger players.
He stressed: "We'll have a group of young pros that need games. We've also got the scholars, the youth players, who need to progress and need to be playing at a decent level so they'll benefit from it so, all in all, it will work out well for us."