Paul Simpson hopes to field a more settled side as Shrewsbury Town usher in 2009 with a tough trip to Valley Parade to take on Bradford City on Saturday.
Town have had a difficult time with injuries in the first half of the season which has consistently forced boss Simpson to shuffle his pack.
But with so much to look forward to in the new year as an absorbing League Two title race hots up, Simpson hopes Town’s injury misfortune will clear up as he targets continued improvement.
“We’re in a good position without being really consistent,” he said. “We’ve had a dreadful run of injuries – why, we can’t put our finger on. We’re about 150 per cent up on the injuries we expected to get back in pre-season. Now, hopefully, we can start to get rid of all that disruption and have a settled side that’s going to be able to go and achieve something.”
Simpson, a busy figure in the transfer market since taking over from Gary Peters as Town boss in March, added: “I knew the squad wasn’t good enough last season and we were a long way off, but this season we’ve looked better.
“It doesn’t guarantee us anything. We’ve just got to keep working and keep pushing as we have so far. Myself, Stuart Delaney and John McMahon are trying to push them on every single day and get that extra little bit.
“I use something I heard from the cyclists in the Olympics. They talk about an aggregate of marginal gains and if everybody can have a marginal gain, put them all together and we’ve got a chance of being very successful.” Simpson, enjoying life as Town boss, reflected on an eventful 2008 which may have seen him become Hibernian manager instead of heading to Shrewsbury.
Simpson revealed he was close to being appointed manager of the Scottish Premier League club shortly before being handed the task of reviving Town’s fortunes.
“I got a phone call to go and have an interview for the Hibernian job which gave me a huge lift,” said ex-Preston manager Simpson.
“I thought I had got it to be honest. I had two interviews and I was sent a contract via email and that made me realise I wanted to get back into football.
“I went to watch them play but then suddenly somebody else came into the frame and it all changed.
“But it was good experience for me because, as a footballer, interviews are not something you have to do very often.
“This was a proper grilling and they made me go over everything that went on at Preston. It got everything off my chest and out of my system because I was quizzed about it all.
“They did so much research into what had happened and when I told them the facts, they reassured me it was not my fault.”
Simpson has been pleased with the backing he’s received from Town’s board since his arrival at the Prostar, stressing he did not know he would be able to embark on a recruitment drive which saw him capture the likes of Grant Holt for a club record fee.
“I came here not knowing we were going to have as big a push as we have done,” he said.
“I came here on the understanding that, if anything, we were going to have to cut back on the budget. I was quite prepared to do that; I didn’t have a problem with it. Then the chairman just said he was going on holiday and he wanted to have a big push for it. For me as a manager that was fantastic. It gives you a real good chance to go and get some success, but it also puts some pressure on you as well.”
Simpson added that he and his family have settled in Shropshire after quickly deciding to move from Lancashire.
“All through my career I’ve felt it’s important to be in the area where the team I’m working for is,” he said. “It makes the fans realise you’re serious about it.
“Hopefully, it shows that I’m committed to trying to stay here and do a good job for us.
“This is a lovely place to live. The people have been very welcoming and I hope at the end of the season everybody’s still as welcoming.”