2005/06 Cup Progress FA Cup Third Round vs Brentford (h) - lost 3-2. Carling Cup First Round vs Sheffield Wednesday (h) - lost 4-2 after extra time. Football League Trophy Northern Section First Round vs Rochdale (a) - lost 3-1.
Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Jermaine Easter (striker) - 11 goals.
Players In Michael Rose (Yeovil Town - Free), Gareth Owen (Oldham Athletic - Loan).
Players Out Matthew Hamshaw (Mansfield Town - Free), Ross Greenwood (York City - Free), Ezekeil Tomlinson (Released), Danny Boshell (Released), Harpal Singh (Released), Mickael Wolski (Released).
Stockport County survived relegation by three points last season after staging a comeback to battle their way out of the bottom two. It was a tense finish and the Hatters won just once in the last five matches of the season as they struggled for both form and goals.
This season the club look weaker at the back than they did in last term when they conceded 78 goals following the departure of captain Matthew Hamshaw. The former Sheffield Wednesday regular joined League Two rivals Mansfield Town on a two year contract.
Manager Jim Gannon has tried to plug his leaky defence with the signing of Michael Rose from Yeovil Town. The former Manchester United defender joined on a free transfer from Huish Park and signed a two year deal. The 23 year old spent three months on loan at Scunthorpe last season and made 15 league appearances in the league. The club also secured a season long loan deal for Oldham Athletic defender Gareth Owen.
Gannon has expressed an interest in signing Peterborough United defender Dean Holden, who made 40 appearances for the Posh after joining them from Oldham Athletic last season.
Goalkeeper James Spencer has signed a new two year contract after his present deal ran out this summer. The 19 year old, who has made 87 appearances for the club since becoming the youngest ever first team goalkeeper keeper since making his debut in April 2002 will remain at Edgeley Park until 2008.
Verdict A goals shortage and a leaky defence do not bode well for the coming season. Despite surviving the drop last term by just three points the bookmakers do not make the Hatters favourites for relegation. The 6/1 on offer should be taken confidently before a few bad results early on reduce the price further.
2005/06 Cup Progress FA Cup Second Round vs Colchester United (h) - lost 2-1. Carling Cup Second Round vs Sheffield United (h) - lost 4-3 on penalties with the score at 0-0 after extra time. Football League Trophy Southern Section First Round vs Cheltenham Town (h) - lost 2-0.
Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Colin McMenamin (striker) - 11 goals.
Players In Ryan Esson (Aberdeen - Free), Daniel Hall (Oldham Athletic - Free), Chris MacKenzie (Chester City - Free), Stuart Drummond (Chester City - Free), Ben Davies (Chester City - Free).
Players Out Joe Hart (Manchester City - ?600,000), Glyn Thomspon (Hereford United - Free), Jamie McClen (Kidderminster Harriers - Free).
Shrewsbury Town missed out on the play-offs by three points last season but manager Gary Peters feels he has a squad that is ready to push for promotion next season. He believes the new signings he has made, including six young players aged 20 and under who all played 40 plus matches last season, are capable of hitting the ground running come August.
The signing of former Aberdeen goalkeeper Ryan Esson was a surprise but shows what ambition the Gay Meadow outfit has. Esson, a direct replacement for Joe Hart who joined Manchester City for ?600,000, agreed a two year contract with the Shrews, bringing his 10 year stint at Aberdeen to an end. Esson started almost 100 matches for the Dons, including 18 appearances in the Scottish Premier League last season.
Shrewsbury managed to fend off interest from Dunfermline Athletic to lure the player to League Two and Esson has the backing of former Manchester United and Scotland goalkeeper Jim Leighton. The pair were team mates at Aberdeen before Leighton became Esson's goalkeeping coach at Pittodrie.
Defender Richard Hope looks set to retain the captain's armband next season, despite the arrival of Stewart Drummond from Chester City who is expected to compete for the role. Drummond took over as skipper last season when regular captain Kevin Sharp lost his place in the team to Neil Ashton.
Peters, keen to bolster his front line, has invited Shropshire born striker Andy Cooke to his pre season preparations. The former Telford United trainee is a free agent after being released by Bradford City.
Verdict Despite the loss of goalkeeper Joe Hart, manager Gary Peters has bought well in the transfer market and has strengthened the squad in time for the new campaign. The Shrews narrowly missed out on the play offs last season but could be strong enough this time around to secure a top seven finish.
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