Simpson set for awkward questions

PAUL SIMPSON FANS' PHONE-IN
Live, BBC Radio Shropshire, 96FM, DAB and online bbc.co.uk/shropshireFriday, 25 April, 1800-1900 BST. Put your question to Paul Simpson on +44(0)1743 248321 (text +44(0)7786 200096, or email [email protected])

Simpson (l) will face the fans' questions on Friday evening

Shrewsbury boss Paul Simpson has promised he will not shirk from any supporters' questions fired at him in Friday night's live radio broadcast.

"I'll be as open as I can," he said ahead of BBC Radio Shropshire's live fans' phone-in (24 April, 1800 BST).

"Football's all about opinion, but I'm in the fortunate position where it's my opinion that forms the decision."

With Town heading for the play-offs rather than the top three, Simpson says he will answer all questions head on.

One line he expects to face is over the release of striker James Constable to Oxford.

I still don't think the squad is near enough what I'd like it to be, and hopefully I'll be given the opportunity to take it where I want to go

Shrewsbury boss Paul Simpson

"James has had a good scoring record there this season," said Simpson. "But it is a different level in the Conference and, at the time, I felt it was right to see him go.

"I'm as disappointed as anyone that we can't go straight up, but I do think we've come a long way from last season when I took over and we were scrapping against relegation.

"I still don't think the squad is near enough what I'd like it to be, and hopefully I'll be given the opportunity to take it where I want to go."

And he added a note of caution to any supporter who believes they can do a better job.

"Everyone thinks being a manager is a really cushy job," he added. "But while the manager of a company faces one AGM a year, a football manager faces one every match-day."