'Three or four players do have to leave' - Appleton

Shrewsbury are 23rd in League Two and without a win this season

Shrewsbury Town manager Michael Appleton said a number of players will need to leave the club before the transfer window closes.

The Shrews have brought in 13 players as they look for an immediate return to League One after relegation last season.

But while Appleton is open to more additions, he said they need to offload some players too.

"I think that a couple of new recruits would give everyone a little bit of a lift," he told BBC Radio Shropshire before Saturday's trip to Swindon Town.

"I really do believe, for us to move forward, there has to be three or four that do have to leave."

The departure of director of football Micky Moore has forced Appleton into a more hands-on role with recruitment.

"Absolutely, it feels like it used to be where I've almost got that direct link into agents. I've always had that anyway because of the various roles that I've had.

"It just means I've been spending a lot more hours on the phone, a lot more hours in the car watching games, and meeting players than I have done for a while."