Paul Simpson hopes to complete the signing of midfielder Asa Hall from Birmingham City by the end of the week – and has not ruled out the arrival of another new face.
While the Shrewsbury Town boss was giving no clues to the identity of the player in question, he confirmed he was hopeful of being able to strengthen his squad in the next few days.
“We’re still working away to try and get some new faces in,” said Simpson. “There may be something by the end of the week. We hope to get Asa Hall sorted and there might be another player but I’m not going to make any promises.”
Simpson also hopes to finalise Town’s pre-season programme within the next couple of days and remains hopeful of enticing a second Premier League club to Oteley Road on August 2 having already arranged an attractive clash against West Bromwich Albion on July 22.
Simpson added he had people in mind to fill the two vacancies in his backroom staff having this week let go kit man Ryan King, the son of ex-Town skipper and manager Jake, following hot on the heels of the departure of physio Joe Hinnigan.
l Former Town boss Jimmy Quinn is bidding to become the first manager to lead two teams into the Football League through the play-offs when his Cambridge United side take on Exeter at Wembley on Sunday.
Quinn, who memorably led Town to promotion from the Conference after getting the better of Aldershot on penalties at Stoke in 2004, will have the backing of over 17,000 Cambridge fans for the Blue Square Premier play-off final.
And the Irishman is leaving no stone unturned in his preparation in case it all comes down to the lottery of spot kicks once more.
“We’ll do our homework and see where Exeter put their penalties,” said Quinn.
“I remember Scott Howie saving three penalties when we won the play-off final with Shrewsbury and that was because Aldershot didn’t change their routine.”
Ex-Town striker Leo Fortune-West, 37, is expected to be on the bench for Cambridge.