League One chief's admission on the cost to complete the season as he votes against Portsmouth, Sunderland and Ipswich's plans

And he believes the £140,000 price of coronavirus testing kits has ‘scared’ a lot of League One clubs.

Following an EFL meeting yesterday, there was still no definitive outcome to how the 2019-20 campaign will be finalised.

On Thursday evening, Pompey, Peterborough, Sunderland, Oxford, Ipswich and Fleetwood reaffirmed their desire for this term to end when it’s safe to do so amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

Shrewsbury sit 16th in the table and have little to play for with 10 games remaining.

That’s why Caldwell is not willing to risk the health of his club's staff or splash out half-a-million pounds needlessly.

Speaking the Shrews’ website, Caldwell said: ‘First and foremost I don’t think it’s right to put our players and staff at risk.

‘We have a duty of care to them and we have to look after them. I certainly don’t feel comfortable bringing them back in and putting them at risk.

‘The test regime, which is centrally arranged, was costed out and each club would have to pay between £125,000 and £140,000.

‘The EFL still want to play the season if possible and safe to do so and they want to leave it to the clubs to decide if there is any curtailment of the season.

‘There are some clubs in and around the play-off positions who are adamant they should play.

‘However, from our club’s perspective, to play the remaining 10 games from a cost point of view with the potential of no crowds – you look at the cost of testing, the lack of furlough money, the cost of hosting games, the cost of travel to games – which will be three or four buses because we can’t travel on one bus to stick to social distancing rules.

‘You are probably looking at the best part of half-a-million pounds to play the remaining games.’