Boss says his captain felt it was time to move on after frustrating final season.

Steve Davis believes that his long serving captain Matt Tootle felt he needed a fresh challenge after enduring a frustrating final season with injury. The 2013/14 Player of the Season made just 18 appearances as a problematic ankle injury virtually ended his involvement last season in October.

The defender regained his fitness to sit on the bench away at Peterborough in the run-in but he never got to play again for Crewe Alexandra, as we managed to stay up on the final day of the season.

The 24-year-old was out of contract at Crewe and despite his limited action last season, Davis and his staff were keen to keep him. In the end, the long-serving captain signed a two-year deal with the newly promoted Shrews.

Steve told the club’s official web-site: “I have always got on well with Matt and had a good working relationship with him.

“I have spoken to him since he moved. He rang me to pass on his thanks to all the staff at the football club.

“He has been here a long time it was a wrench to leave the club that has been a secure place for him where he has spent a lot of his life.

“He will be missed around the place, he’s a good player, but Shrewsbury offered him a deal and it was his decision. We left it with him after making him an offer but he has gone with the deal that Shrewsbury put to him.”

He added: "Ollie has probably earned the right to play and will be given the opportunity during the close season and during the pre-season games.

"It's then up to him that if he wants to play to show he deserves his place in the team."