John Askey: Shrewsbury Town appoint Macclesfield Town boss as manager

John Askey had been manager of Macclesfield Town since April 2013

Shrewsbury Town have appointed John Askey, boss of National League champions Macclesfield, as manager on a three-year contract.

Askey takes over at the League One club just 48 hours after Paul Hurst departed to become Ipswich Town manager.

The 53-year-old had been in charge at Macclesfield since April 2013.

"The job at Macclesfield was done, I'd got them back into the League, and when this opportunity came up I couldn't turn it down," he told BBC Shropshire.

"Over the last few years I've been used to winning. As a player I was used to winning, and that's what I want to reproduce here."

Askey is in discussions with the man he wants as his number two. But, following Chris Doig's decision to follow Hurst to Ipswich, he will keep faith with the other members of Town's backroom team. goalkeeping coach Danny Coyne and physiotherapist Chris Skitt.

The 'feel-good factor'

John Askey's Macclesfield finished 10 points clear of former Shrewsbury boss Micky Mellon's Tranmere

Askew inherits a Shrewsbury side who finished third in the League One table - their best position in 29 years - only to lose to Rotherham United in Sunday's play-off final at Wembley.

"Shrewsbury did excellently last season," said Askey. "I'm sure there's a massive feel-good factor around the club, and hopefully we can keep that going.

"My hopes are to get Shrewsbury promoted. Whether that will be next season, or in another year or two, you've got to aim high."

Stoke-born Askey began his career at Port Vale (for whom his father Colin played, as well as Walsall and Mansfield, in the 1950s) before then spending 19 years with Macclesfield as a player.

Macclesfield secured promotion to the English Football League by finishing 10 points clear of Tranmere Rovers, who are managed by former Shrewsbury Town boss Micky Mellon.

Analysis

BBC Shropshire's Nick Southall

"As they did with Paul Hurst, Shrewsbury have gone for a manager who plied his trade in non-league football, taking Macclesfield back to the Football League after several years of struggle.

"People in the game have the upmost respect for Askey and the work he has done at Macclesfield, along with the loyalty he has shown to Moss Rose. But now is his time to move on and prove his worth at a higher level in League One.

"Known for playing attractive football in a similar style to Hurst, Askey looks the perfect fit for Shrewsbury, a club quickly earning the reputation of giving lower league managers, with the right credentials, the chance to progress up the football pyramid. It's an example other league clubs might follow."