Ex-Hull, Swansea, and Stoke City Midfielder Sam Clucas will join Shrewsbury Town on a two-year deal following the expiration of his Lincoln contract on July 1st.
Clucas becomes the second addition of the summer for newly relegated Shrewsbury, who finished bottom of League One last season. He follows experienced centre-back Tom Anderson, who arrived from League Two champions Doncaster Rovers earlier this month.
Speaking to the club website, Clucas described how he is ready to get to work with Head Coach Michael Appleton in the fourth tier:
“I’m really excited to get my teeth into this. I spoke to the head coach very early on in the window, and he made it clear he wanted me.”
“If someone wants you to come and play, that’s the most important thing,” he added.
The 34-year-old has an array of experience across the EFL with over 100 appearances in League One and Two combined, as well as more than 200 in the Championship and 66 appearances in the Premier League.
Clucas played the majority of his games with Stoke City, where he made 143 appearances, scoring 19 goals and registering 15 assists.
Shrewsbury Town: a bounce-back season or slipping further?
Last season was difficult for Shrewsbury fans.
Disappointing results, the appointment and departure of the charismatic Gareth Ainsworth, a collapsed takeover deal and finally relegation all added up to a disappointing campaign.
New manager Michael Appleton, who served as an interim until he was given the position full time, now has a full transfer window to recruit to make sure the Shropshire side doesn’t fall further down the footballing pyramid.
Concerns about the failed takeover and a lack of movement regarding the sale of the club, however, are fuelling fan concerns over potential double relegation out of the Football League.
Director of Football Micky Moore came under fire for last season’s recruitment strategy, and there’s no room for error this time. With resources tight, the emphasis has been on free transfers and experience.
Perhaps that is why Shrewsbury Town have already begun recruiting players so soon after the end of the season, and most notably, on free transfers, which may help keep costs down for a club that doesn’t have funds to spare.
So far the two signings that have been made do look to be strengthening the Shrews with both Anderson and Clucas bringing a host of experience to the side. In fact, Anderson has experience in League Two, having made 29 appearances this season as Doncaster Rovers won the division.
So will Appleton’s Shrewsbury bounce back to League One thanks to their shrewd deals, or does non-league football beckon?