Gareth Ainsworth, the manager of Shrewsbury Town, has made it clear that he is keen to retain the club's on-loan players—Leo Castledine, Funso Ojo, and Josh Feeney. Speaking to BBC Radio Shropshire, Ainsworth expressed his satisfaction with the trio, stating, "I'm really happy with all three. Right now, right here, none of those three will be leaving the club if it was down to me."
Shrewsbury Town, currently competing in League One, utilised their maximum quota of five loan signings during the August transfer window. However, with the recent return of Arsenal’s Charles Sagoe Jr and Aston Villa’s Tommi O'Reilly, the club is now poised to explore new opportunities as the January transfer window progresses. Ainsworth has particularly emphasised his desire to keep hold of defender Josh Feeney, who is on loan from Aston Villa, alongside midfielders Funso Ojo from Port Vale and Leo Castledine from Chelsea.
Despite his commitment to retaining these players, Ainsworth acknowledged the interest from other clubs, remarking, "Obviously, there are other clubs involved. But I want them all here. They are all totally bought into the fight." This sentiment underscores the importance of player cohesion in Ainsworth's tactical vision for the team. He believes that aligning the entire squad with his approach could lead to significant successes on the pitch. "I know once everyone is on board, with the way I want things done, the way that we play and what we can achieve, you'll see some fantastic results," he noted, highlighting the critical role of unity in achieving performance goals.
In addition to his focus on retaining loan players, Ainsworth has made strategic signings from non-league football this January, bringing in Leamington striker Callum Stewart, Eastleigh midfielder Dom Gape, and Telford striker Ricardo Dinanga. The club has also extended the contract of goalkeeper Jamal Blackman, further solidifying their squad depth.
Following a commendable 2-1 victory against promotion contenders Wrexham, Shrewsbury Town now prepares to face Charlton Athletic at The Valley this Saturday. Currently, the team finds itself six points adrift of safety as they embark on their tenth consecutive season in League One. Ainsworth's efforts to strengthen the squad and maintain key players will be crucial as they navigate the challenges ahead.