Rochdale boss Keith Hill believes Shrewsbury are clear favourites to win the League Two title this season based on their new resources.Dale came agonisingly close to winning promotion last term after slipping to a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat against Stockport in the play-off final.

Shrewsbury, by contrast, struggled badly and Paul Simpson took over as manager in March after Gary Peters left the club by mutual consent.

However, the Shrews have since broken their transfer record by signing Nottingham Forest striker Grant Holt for £170,000, and have also snapped up Blackpool defender Michael Jackson.

Hill said: "For the budget and the resources that they (Shrewsbury) had, they failed but they have wiped the slate clean and gone again.

"For me they are favourites to win our league next season. They have already recruited Grant Holt, they have got Michael Jackson from Blackpool and they are trying to recruit (Graham) Coughlan from Rotherham. With the players that they have got and with the resources that they possess, they are definitely my favourites."

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