BY DARREN JOHNSTONE – Capital City Press
Former Rangers midfielder Ian Black has signed a two-year at Shrewsbury Town, and reckons straight-talking fellow Scot Micky Mellon can get the best out of him.
The 30-year-old, who has the option of a further 12 months at the club, impressed in training and played in a reserve game against Wrexham last week alongside fellow trialist and one-time Ibrox playmaker Rhys McCabe.
Black made 77 league appearances in three season with Rangers but was released during the summer.
And after turning out for Berwick Rangers in pre-season and training briefly at Raith Rovers, the uncompromising midfielder is desperate to make an impact at the English League One side under Glasgow-born manager Mellon.
He said: “I believe the gaffer will get the best out of me and I am delighted with that.
“From the moment I met him, I knew the gaffer would be good.
“He is straight talking, which is how I like it, and he doesn’t shy away from a confrontation – I think that is a Scottish thing.
“I like to be told honestly how I am doing. If I am not performing well then I like to be told because you need to be truthful with yourself to improve and help the team.
“Straight away I was welcomed by all the staff. It is like a little family club with everyone seeming to stick together, so that’s great for me.
“Overall I am delighted to be here and hopefully I can help bring success to the club.
“I’m quite fortunate that my wife is from down south so she is delighted to be moving back to England.
“My main aim was to get somewhere back in England so I am delighted to have ended up here.”
Black, who only made six league appearances for Rangers during the second half of last season, added: “I want to be a part of achieving something at every team I have been at, promotion is the aim here.
“It didn’t take too long to sort this move out, which is great, so I can just focus on my football.
“The spirits are high here at the moment and there is no reason why the boys shouldn’t be thinking of promotion as the overall aim.”
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