Daniels trades Shrewsbury for Saints as Oswestry club strengthen

Goalkeeper Dan Atherton, defender Josh Pask and winger Josh Daniels agreed terms with the Oswestry club this week.

Atherton became the Saints' first signing of the summer over the weekend with the ex-Liverpool youngster arriving via spells at Marine, Malaga City in the USA and Warrington Town.

The 22 year old said: "I’m very happy to get this deal done.

"I can’t wait to get started and do what I can to help this club maintain and improve the standards they have set themselves.

"Let’s make this season the most successful one yet."

Daniel Atherton has signed for TNS from Warrington Town. Picture by Brian Jones.

Also arriving is former Irish Republic Under 21s winger Josh Daniels who joins from English Football League One side Shrewsbury Town.

A native of Northern Ireland, the 26 year old began his career playing junior football in his hometown of Derry.

The winger made 57 appearances across three seasons in the League of Ireland Premier Division before a spell at NIFL Premiership side Glenavon.

Josh Daniels has joined TNS from Shrewsbury Town. Picture: TNS FC.

As a reward for his impressive displays, in the summer of 2020, Daniels signed a two year deal with Shrewsbury Town and played in the English Football League for the first time in his career.

He made 50 appearances for the Shrews before departing at the end of last season.

"I’m really happy to be here and get started," he said. "It’s a new challenge for me and I’m really looking forward to it."

Josh Pask has signed for TNS from Coventry City.

TNS have also also signed 24 year old defender Pask from English League One side Coventry City.

Beginning his career at West Ham United, Pask had loan spells at Dagenham and Redbridge and Gillingham before signing for Coventry City in 2019.

The following season he made 17 appearances in the English Championship and helped the newly promoted Sky Blues to a very respectable 16th place finish.

Pask joined Newport County on loan last season before agreeing terms with TNS.

“I’m very happy to sign for The New Saints and work with the gaffer who did such a great job last season”, Pask said.

“I’m also looking forward to playing in the European games and hopefully making the group stages in one of the three competitions.

“It’ll be great to work with Anthony, who I’m familiar with from my time at West Ham a few years ago. Hopefully I can improve my game and be an asset to the TNS team, and we can go on to replicate what we achieved last season and go one step further in Europe."

The New Saints head coach Anthony Limbrick. 

Saints coach Anthony Limbrick said: "During my time at West Ham United, Josh was a standout performer in the club’s U18 and U23 teams, so I was very keen to bring him to Oswestry as soon as I heard he was available.

“We managed to beat a number of Football League clubs to secure his services, which says a lot about the direction in which The New Saints want to progress and move forward."

We’ve been watching Dan for some time now and have been really impressed with his performances," he added.

“His key attributes, which include his ability to play out from the back, are one of the major reasons for signing him.“He’s a good age, with plenty of time to develop so we’re really happy to have him on board to improve our goalkeeping department.”

Of Daniels, the Saints boss said: "We’ve been monitoring Josh for some time now and adding him to the squad is a real coup for The New Saints.

“He’s an exciting ball-carrying winger who can get you up the pitch, and he arrives with both European and English Football League experience.

“A good age and a good character, he’ll fit in very well here at Park Hall."