Shrewsbury Town target leaves non-league side amid Town links

It was reported on Friday that Shrewsbury were in for the defensive midfielder as Gareth Ainsworth seeks to boost his ranks in the January transfer window. 

The 30-year-old has made 10 appearances for the National League side, who are 11th in the table and just three points off seventh-placed Solihull Moors. 

Gape has had a distinguished EFL career and has played for Ainsworth before - he made more than 170 league appearances for Wycombe between August 2016 and June 2023. 

The former Southampton academy product had not played for Eastleigh in their last two games - which they won at Moors and lost at home to Altrincham. 

And Eastleigh confirmed Gape's departure on Sunday afternoon despite offering him fresh terms in Hampshire. 

A statement on the club's social media channels said they understand his decision to explore other opportunities. 

The statement said: "Despite Eastleigh FC offering Gape a new contract, the midfielder has decided that he wishes to explore opportunities elsewhere, and whilst we are disappointed, we understand and respect his decision.

"We would like to place on record our thanks to Dominic and wish him all the best for the future."

The Shropshire Star revealed on Sunday evening Salop are planning to do business this week in the transfer window. 

The Shrewsbury head coach, Ainsworth, admitted his squad is light on bodies after six players have left the club since the start of the window. 

Town made their first incoming last week as Callum Stewart joined from non-league side Leamington. 

He was in the squad as Shrewsbury took on Wrexham in the cross-border derby last Thursday night - a game which Shrews won 2-1 thanks to a brace from John Marquis. 

As Salop prepare to take on Charlton this weekend in League One, the boss is very aware they need reinforcements. 

"We are hoping to maybe get a couple in this week," he said. "I want to try and bring some players in, just for the fact that the squad is a little bit thin.

"Especially numbers-wise. But hopefully, it might be people I may have worked with in the past, or know me as a person or know the systems I play that we can just add into the group."