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Warning from Hereford
The following is an edited version of an article published in this morning's Daily Telegraph:
As Steve Guinan followed Michael Rose out of Hereford yesterday the warning was there for both the Nationwide play-off finalists, Aldershot and Shrewsbury: lose at Stoke on Sunday and you risk the break-up of your squad.
Rose, a left-sided midfielder, had joined Yeovil before Guinan, the Conference's second highest scorer, signed for Cheltenham to leave Hereford manager Graham Turner with even more regrets over his team's failure in a penalty shoot-out against Aldershot 10 days ago following the second leg of the play-off semi-final.
Aldershot, now in the guise of Aldershot Town following the demise of the original club, who went bankrupt after resigning from the League in 1992, probably have far less to lose than Shrewsbury.
Promotion would probably come at least a season too early for Aldershot who are only one year out of the Ryman League. Shrewsbury, relegated last season, seem better equipped for Third Division football in August.
The twist in the tail is provided by the two managers, Terry Brown and Jimmy Quinn. Quinn still turns out for Shrewsbury at the age of 44 and for a brief period three years ago he played at Hayes under Brown, who joked this week: "I hope Jimmy brings his boots on Sunday because he is not as quick as he thinks he is."