Back-to-back promotions are the aim of Preston North End’s new Aussie defender Shane Cansdell-Sherriff.
The centre-half helped Shrewsbury climb out of League Two last season, and now he wants a crack at a League One promotion push with North End.
His first few days training at PNE have whetted his appetite for what he hopes will be a successful 2012/13 campaign.
Cansdell-Sherriff told the Evening Post: “I went to Shrewsbury to get promotion and finally achieved that after four years.
“Now I need a new challenge and Preston have given me that.
“We’ll be right up there. The type of players who have come in are winners – trust me on that.
“Over the last week or so we’ve been getting to know each other, and we’re all here to win.
“The manager has a way of doing things which are maybe a bit different to what a lot of players are used to.
“But he knows what winning is all about and he’ll do what it takes to do that.
“The last few days have been hard work. There’s been a lot of information passed to us and stuff going on.
“A lot of the players are getting used to a new schedule and how things are done.
“We’re having to get our bodies adjusted to what needs to be done.
“The drills, the possession work, the running exercises are all a bit different to what I’ve done in the past.
“But it’s all good fun getting used to it and I’ll benefit from that.”
Cansdell-Sherriff, 29, made the move to North End along with Shrewsbury team-mate Nicky Wroe.
They face a swift return to Greenhous Meadow next month, PNE’s first away fixture of the campaign falling on Tuesday, August 21.
On the other side that night will be ex-North Ender Paul Parry.
The Welshman, who was released in May after failing to agree a new contract, yesterday signed a two-year deal with the Shrews.
Cansdell-Sheriff admitted a move away from Shrewsbury was always likely this summer.
He said: “I had set my heart on going back to Australia and finishing my career there.
“Then Preston came up and straight away I could see what they wanted to do.
“I want to win stuff and Preston want to be back in the Championship – my aim is to help them do that.
“Hopefully being here can take me to the next level.
“It’s nice to have Nicky Wroe with me.
“While all the lads are friendly, there’s nothing better than having a familiar face alongside you.
“When the training sessions have been tough, having someone you know well to help get through them makes a big difference.
“The fixture list is such that it’s sending Nicky and myself back to Shrewsbury very early in the season.
“I’ve been back there a couple of times to talk to people at the club and I’ve got a lot of friends there,” he added.
“Shrewsbury will be tough because they didn’t lose at home last season.”
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