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Mixed reaction from fans as Shrewsbury quickly appoint head coach until the end of the season

There was mixed reaction from fans as Shrewsbury Town quickly appoint head coach Michael Appleton until the end of the season.

The decision came just days after Gareth Ainsworth’s unexpected departure to League Two side Gillingham on March 25th, leaving the club bottom of League One and 14 points from safety with only nine games remaining.

Appleton was named as Ainsworth’s successor, alongside assistant Richard O’Donnell, with director of football Micky Moore saying Michael was their ‘number one target’.

STATEMENT:

Shrewsbury Town are pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Appleton as head coach for the remainder of the 2024/25 season.

A former midfielder with Manchester United, Preston North End, and West Bromwich Albion, Appleton’s most recent managerial role was with Charlton Athletic.

Over the course of his 14-year career in management, he has also held the reins at Portsmouth, Blackpool, Blackburn Rovers, Leicester, Lincoln and Oxford – where he earned his first promotion.

Notably, he also led Oxford to two Wembley appearances before taking caretaker charge of Premier League Leicester.

Appleton will now guide the team through the final nine matches of the season.

He will be joined by assistant head coach Richard O’Donnell – who he worked alongside at Lincoln, Blackpool and Charlton.

On Michael’s arrival, director of football Micky Moore said: “I’m absolutely delighted – along with the Chairman and board of directors – to welcome both Michael and Richard to the club.

“It’s been a difficult seven days. But once Gareth Ainsworth made the decision to leave, it was important we acted quickly to find the right man to guide us through the remainder of the season.

“Michael was my number one target. And I’m thrilled that over the last 24 hours we’ve been able to get a deal over the line – with Michael and Richard joining us until the end of the season.

“I know the past few days have been difficult for supporters. Nobody likes confusion and uncertainty.

“But hopefully now, by making this quick appointment, we can all get behind Michael and Richard for the remaining nine games of the season.

“Thank you for your continued support.”

Michael Appleton said when asked about discussions beyond this campaign, per  Shropshire Star: “Deliberately none. In the sense of when I first spoke to Micky, they obviously wanted to bring in an interim manager, so to speak, and deal with these nine games.

“I was sat at home two or three weeks ago having all of a sudden got myself out to like two or three games a week watching games at different levels, and in my head, it was you know I want to be in the dugout for the start of next season.

“That’s what I had in my head, and I was really really keen to make that happen, I’ve had a bit of a break from the game, I’m energised and ready to go again and I didn’t expect the phone call and the conversation that I had so it’s an added bonus for me.

“Hopefully that will work in the favour of the football club, and I’m sure getting closer to that ninth game there’ll be a discussion of what that looks like after that, but at the moment I’m really focused on the games in hand, and you know trying to pick up a few points.

“All I can say is that look, we’ve got nine very, very important games, obviously we’ve got some really difficult games in that period. For me, I hate giving promises as a group we are going to be as competitive as we possibly can.

“And at the same time try and give you guys as the fans something to cheer about, something to put a smile on your face on a Saturday and a Tuesday.

“All we can ask from an honesty point of view is you just give the same back and just you know get behind us as much as you possibly can.

“If we can get a win or two and maybe pick up a bit of momentum, who knows, you just don’t know.”

New Gillingham boss Gareth Ainsworth speaks; Favourites to become new Shrewsbury manager

As mentioned, there was mixed reaction from fans as Shrewsbury quickly appoint head coach Michael Appleton until the end of the season…

@Tezzadp: “I’m absolutely delighted”….. “number one target” ….. behind your last “number one target” and the other 4 before that in the last 2 years?!?! Talk some rubbish 🤣🤦‍♂️

@bookiemonster81: Good luck to MApp at Salop. Feels like a bit of a hiding to nothing though

@salopiankillie: Already down… but these 9 games feels like a long trial for both. It could end up being a successful appointment in the long term or yet another disaster. Just need to get behind him and give him a chance.

@ValleyFloydFred: You guys are so fucked. This is the most desperate appointment going.

@Joe_Citrone: Oxford fan here. Odd short-term appointment as he’s someone who works better with time. If you do keep him beyond this season, and give him time and patience to build the team in his vision, he could be extraordinary for you. He certainly was for us.

@TheDanHough:
I am not even sure where to start with this.
– What are his aims over these nine games?
– Is the plan for him to stay on longer?
– How on earth has this all moved so quickly?
I’ve have more Qs, folks, plenty more…..

@kempson_luke: Lincoln fans make me laugh , why they are filling up this comment section . Just let it go , he took us literally to the cusp of the Championship .. It didn’t work out in the end , he personally helped me when I had a mini break down , will always have my respect for that ..

@lawsyyyy: The line that stands out here is “It’s been a difficult 7 days.” This implies Ainsworth told the club a week ago knowing we had no game last weekend and explains how we got a new manager the “day after” Ainsworth leaving #salop

@LewisH92: I’m so sorry to hear this, our deepest condolences from everyone at Charlton Athletic.

@Rob_Baker17: Loves the stone Island the lad.. you won’t see the hands very often, he keeps them secure

@CheshireShrew: Anyone know what the Charlton fans think of this guy? Be nice if one of them chirped up with some thoughts.

@ben_cuerden: And the point of this is? 🤷‍♂️

@mralsmith: no idea if this is a good or a bad appointment , it’s all getting too much, I want the season to stop. I want the takeover to stop I mean actually happen and then may be win a game or two

@BrxdClxrke: Haven’t got a clue how to feel about it regardless as I can’t see anyone coming in and performing a miracle until the end of the season 🤣

@mikebaldwin812: Michael was my number one target’. He can’t help himself, Mickey 🤣

@EdSalop1: 9 games to work out that working for Roland and Micky is worse than being unemployed…

@Jacko9413: Why? 😂 hate to of seen the other candidates if this was MM ‘number one’ 👀

@STFC_Will: We are already down but good luck to him for the last few games

@Tezzadp: Should have saved the cash and recruited after the end of the season, relegated anyway so why waste the wages? save the money and recruit properly and not a rush job.

@Brett33D: Oh dear. Genuinely fee for you

@Richard00717614: I thought we were “shocked” about GA leaving

@CafcJ76489: National league tour 🔜

@superte10527570: thank you michael at such short notice good luck fixing a sinking ship

@Antni_b: I liked him at Pompey. Done as well as you can expect given the shit show we were at the time, and came across well. Only really had one decent spell at Oxford since then though.

@owencafc1417: I’m so so sorry this has happened to you

@Alex_CAFC47: I’m sorry to hear that you’ve been relegated. Accept your fate now

@jbennett1997: Not only getting relegated, now have to deal with a manager who offers his own fans out when he loses 🤦‍♂️

@KingOfCoolCAFC: Worst bloke I’ve ever seen down the Valley.

@mdavisontafc: You must be desperate 🤣

@53BFC53: Commiserations, an absolute fraud. How does this turkey keep getting jobs?!

@theshrew88: I like the idea of a interim head coach coming but will be good enough for us Welcome Michael

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