Shrewsbury Town chairman Roland Wycherley MBE was criticised by fans as Steve Cotterill shows class with his goodbye statement.
The 58-year old left Salop after spending two and a half years as manager, appointed as their manager in November 2020 and in 2022-23 he guided the club to its best ever finish in five seasons, finishing 12th in League One.
Cotterill was hospitalised for 33 days with Covid and had to miss the second half of the 2020-21 season.
BBC Radio Shropshire announced last week that Cotterill would be departing the club.
Cotterill’s departure comes a month after chief executive Brian Caldwell left.
SEE MORE: Fans hit out at Shrewsbury as manager leaves weeks after his comments on re-structure
Club Statement | Steve Cotterill leaves Shrewsbury Town.
— Shrewsbury Town FC (@shrewsburytown) June 6, 2023
A statement from chairman Roland Wycherley MBE after Steve Cotterill left his post as Shrewsbury Town manager.
— Shrewsbury Town FC (@shrewsburytown) June 6, 2023
CLUB STATEMENT:
Steve Cotterill has left his post as first team manager.
The club would like to place on record their thanks to Steve for all his hard work and commitment during the last two and a half years, taking us from a relegation place in League One to 12th in the table and also for working from his hospital bed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
A statement from our Chairman, Roland Wycherley MBE following the departure of manager Steve Cotterill.
As a lifelong supporter, as well as Chairman and custodian of Shrewsbury Town Football Club, it is my first priority and duty to secure and protect the club for future generations.
From time-to-time circumstances arise when difficult and unpopular decisions have to be made to safeguard the very future of our club.
We currently find ourselves in such a position and we would be failing in our duty if we shirk those decisions.
Unfortunately, because of confidentiality restrictions, it is not always possible to keep our supporters fully informed.
Premature leaks and gossip only exacerbate the situation, fuelling different agendas.
Going forward, be assured that management structures and new football strategies are already in place – the rationale for the actions we have taken will become evident in the coming weeks and months.
Really shocked by the decision to sack Steve Cotterill by @shrewsburytown . Top half finish in league one seems a pretty good achievement. And this was a man who managed them from his hospital bed when seriously ill with covid. Should be a long queue for his services.
— Jeff Stelling (@JeffStelling) June 6, 2023
If that is the case Tom I would imagine it is because his position was made untenable. I doubt he wanted to leave. If anyone knows otherwise, happy to be corrected
— Jeff Stelling (@JeffStelling) June 6, 2023
Well let’s see if the vision turns out to long sighted or short sighted. I just wish Steve well in the future
— Jeff Stelling (@JeffStelling) June 6, 2023
COTTERILL STATEMENT:
“I’m proud of the work that has been done by everyone in the past two and a half years at the club. From fighting relegation to a top half finish. I am confident this team will continue its progression next season.
“Working through Covid was tough and I have to thank my incredible staff for their help throughout.
“I would also like to thank the players. It is a fantastic group that gave me absolutely everything, right up to the last game of the season. The relationship I had with them was very special.
“When I joined Shrewsbury Town, I wanted to create a connection between the supporters and the team. Thankfully after a lot of hard work and your help we achieved that.
“Finally to all of you Shrewsbury Town Fans,
“Ole’ Ole’ Ole’.
As mentioned, the Shrewsbury chairman was criticised by fans as Steve Cotterill shows class with his goodbye statement…
@janepittaway777: Speechless to be honest. Tells us nothing yet references gossip! We may be mere mortals but the club is as important to us supporters as it is to him. I appreciate what he does to keep us financially viable but without us there would be no club.
@ShrewsfansUSA: Thanks for all you did Steve. hope this isn’t the start of a downward slide. He will do very well at whatever league one team are able to pick him up!
@iMack82: Someone’s tetchy! 🤣🤣 what’s it like working with a man baby in charge?
@jackhart35: Regardless of the circumstances, the way this has been handled is shameful. And if we’ve gotten ourselves in a sticky financial situation (as appears to be being suggested here) the responsibility lays solely at the top of the club and not with the first team manager.
@_OfficialSi: No thanks. No appreciation. A statement lacking in respect for a man, who literally. Very nearly died whilst serving the club. While there more be deeper rooted reasons for his departure, this is very poor, but hey! What do we expect.
@SamPoole2006: If you call yourself a “fan of our club” then you should do what’s right for the future, sell to a new board who’ll want actual success for the club and not a consistent mid table league one finish
@therangarich: Regardless, you could’ve done better than a few words thanking SC for the job he did.
@ChrisGray94: “Premature leaks and gossip only exacerbates the situation” – so does you lack of communication.
@TomTomm93: Literally answers nothing. Great statement 👍
@WendyL78: All you are doing is trying to deflect attention from yourself and pass it on to good people who have left the club. BC was an excellent CEO – now gone. SC was a fantastic manager – now gone. Paul Delves – gone awol. This has been a regular pattern over your 20 years here!
@pykepykebaby: Didn’t think it could get much worse than the first statement, how wrong I was 🤦♂️
@svenncfc: After so many fans like myself gave the club our money during COVID to help the club out the least you could do is stop treating us like mushrooms and actually tell us something! Then you won’t have wild speculation and rumour! Something clearly isn’t sitting well somewhere
@jefferstaj: Disgusting the way you treated cotterill Roland , if the same happens with the next manager until you change the vicious circle will continue , you don’t care about the club or fans
@albanheiron: Don’t care what’s gone on you should stay classy but your statements are getting worse and your sounding like a dictator
@TheDanwall87: Not even a thanks for Steve. What a joke. The guy nearly died of COVID while he was manager. The club will won’t move forward while Roland is in charge.
@MarkHolland81: Why would any decent manager want to come and work for you Roland, the way you treat staff at the club has always been poor. Very disrespectful statement about SC as well. You are no longer acting in the interests of paying fans!
@Matsevans: Roland your time is now to leave, you have done well for the club but all this nonsense with Steve when you stated when he arrived that you had tried to get him for over 20 years, it’s a disgrace given our league position. We as fans have a right to know why! ???
@eddie_l73: The lack of ambition of the club is genuinely so so draining
@Luke_G2001; Vile statement
@SJL14978016: No thanks to Steve for the job he’s done or apology for the way he found out about Moore?! What a terrible way to treat a guy who almost died and carried on managing the club. So glad you’re not the chairman of Steve’s hometown club #ctfc
@BigTom0491: This is getting worse!! Absolutely no respect shown towards a manager who was excellent for you and very highly respected in the game
@picn98: ….and what does this even mean? Talking cryptically creates more questions than it answers…
@Jacob__JOW: “it is my first priority and duty to secure and protect the club for future generations.” How many more times do you have to say this, it isn’t a free get out of jail card. Don’t ruin your legacy Roland please, we’ve all appreciated everything until now. This isn’t fair for us.
@mrlewiskemp: Horrendous waffle. Lack of class. PR disaster.
Oh and Roland, this is what a class statement looks like. Never too late to learn pal! pic.twitter.com/h6Gj6flWM6
— Roborob (@Robert82_86) June 6, 2023
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