Neil Salisbury, the long-serving batsman, has been named Shelton’s new captain after Eugene McCarney stepped down after a single season in charge of the Marston’s Shropshire Premier Cricket League club.
Salisbury, a prolific run scorer, has been a key man for Shelton for the last 25 years having joined the club at a young age.
And Shelton chairman Gareth Cadwallader admitted the club were delighted he had agreed to take on the top job with Andy Wigginton appointed as his vice-captain.
“We’ve persuaded Neil to do it and he’s quite keen,” said Cadwallader. “He’s probably our best player so he’s the ideal man to be captain and he’s Shelton through and through. I think he and Andy Wigginton will be a good combination. Eugene did a good job as captain last year but with his work commitments he didn’t feel he could really give the job the time it needs this season.”
Shelton, who have lost the services of consistent paceman Chris Speake to town rivals Reman Services, now hope to recruit some new players ahead of the start of the new season in April.
Cadwallader revealed they were contemplating whether to bring over another young Australian to replace fellow countryman Nick Janes who did reasonably well last year.
Meanwhile, Shelton have disbanded their third team after a difficult season in the Rollinson Smith Shropshire League saw them regularly struggle to fulfil fixtures in the closing weeks of the campaign.
“We’ll look to resurrect the third team in the future,” added Cadwallader.
Paul Davies has been elected as Shelton’s second team skipper and he will have Keith Martindale as his vice-captain.
Full list of officers: president, Gareth Jones; chairman, Gareth Cadwallader; vice-chairman, Jon Edgerton; secretary, Ben Chambers; treasurer, Jan Griffiths; first team captain, Neil Salisbury; vice-captain, Andy Wigginton; second team captain, Paul Davies; vice-captain, Keith Martindale.
Sunday captain, Ben Chambers; midweek captain, Matthew Morris; commercial manager, Matthew Morris.