New striker looking forward to the promotion challenge at Town
Tyrone Barnett has revealed he cannot wait to get started and assist Town in their push for promotion.The 29-year-old put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half-year deal this evening – just a few hours before the transfer window shuts – and believes there is a lot to be excited about here.
“This team has a lot of aspirations to move up not just in League Two but in the higher leagues as well and I’m grateful to be a part of it and can’t wait to get started,” said Barnett.
“I’ve played in League Two before and my recent loan spell with Oxford was good and ended really well for me but now I’ve got the opportunity to start again and I’m very grateful for it.
“Shrewsbury is quite local to where I live (Lichfield) so it all fell into place really well.”
With deadline day being famous for last minute deals, the former Peterborough and Crawley striker admitted he didn’t know what today had in store for him.
“I woke up this morning and my first thought was to go to training.
“Obviously my agent does a lot of hard work and I just focus on the football side.
“January’s obviously a busy month so we’ve been in contact on a day to day basis so he’s been filling me in on what’s going on.”
With over ten clubs on his CV, including AFC Telford United and a prolific spell at Crawley Town, which landed him a big money move to Peterborough United, Barnett is keen to repeat the success he has seen at his previous clubs.
“When I drove down today I remembered the junctions where I used to go (when playing for AFC Telford).
“I came into the game late so I enjoy every moment when I wake up to play football because I know what it can be like on the other side.
“Crawley was a great part of my career and hopefully I can get that similar feeling back again.
“Strikers know there isn’t a better feeling than scoring a goal so that’s what I aim to do.
“As long as I keep myself fit I always feel like I can score goal and I feel I help to create goals as well.”
As a player who has experienced several clubs battling at both ends of the league table, Stevenage born Barnett believes he has the experience to help take Town to the next level.
“My time at Peterborough started really well but then turned a bit sour but you can’t let them things get to you.
“I look back and try to learn from every moment and every situation I’ve been in whether good or bad and hopefully bring those experiences back to this football club.
Having never experienced a promotion, Barnett is confident that from what he has already seen, his new side are in a great position and that competition for places is all part of the game.
“I’ve not really experienced a full promotion yet so it would be nice to be here and achieve one.
“I think competition is really good in any position on the pitch.
“I met Micky Mellon today and there is a very good felling about the place.
“Hopefully I can help carry on the great run the team is on.”
And despite finalising his move late into the evening, the new striker is already preparing to meet his new team mates at training tomorrow and admits he did seek advice from some former Salop stars.
“There’s no time to rest now as I will be meeting the lads tomorrow and then the hard work starts.
“I spoke to both Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Jon Taylor on the phone and they both had nice things to say about the club which makes coming here easier.”