On Sunday, Shrewsbury announced the sacking of head coach Matt Taylor after the club picked up just one win in their last seven games.
Taylor was the eighth manager to be dismissed this season, and the ninth to leave their job, after Liam Manning moved from Oxford United to Bristol City.
Despite scoring a joint-league-low 18 goals so far this season, Shrewsbury were still in a fairly safe position in mid-table until recently. They’ve no doubt rode their luck this season, especially with their performances in front of goal, and that now seems to have caught up with them.
Now sat in 19th, and seven points clear of the relegation zone with four of the five teams below them with a game in hand, the club have decided that now is the time for change.
Taylor leaves his post having only joined the club in the summer following former-manager Steve Cotterill’s resignation. The 42-year-old was the club’s first head coach and it might be a move which the board are now regretting rather than going with a more classic manager role.
With Director of Football Micky Moore still in his position, it is most likely that the next person in will also be appointed as the team’s head coach.
Although the Shrews will be wanting to get the correct person in charge, they are under a bit of pressure with the transfer window soon closing. With not long left to bring in new players, the club may make a quick decision within next week.
With that in mind, here are five potential head coach options for Shrewsbury Town…
Mark Kennedy
Kennedy is yet to find a new landing spot having left Lincoln City in mid-October after a string of below-par performances. The Irishman did a relatively good job with the Imps during his year and a half tenure and it is somewhat surprising that he is still out of a job given the number of teams that have switched managers this season.
With previous experience of working with a Director of Football, it could potentially be a move that works out very well and with experience of working in League One as well, Kennedy should be one of the names at the forefront of the conversation.
Dino Maamria
This could be a controversial one given Burton’s performances under Maamria this season, yet in fairness he did have the Brewers playing some very good football at points. Prior to that, the Tunisian led the club to a 15th place finish after a remarkable run of form towards the end of the season.
With prior experience in relegation battles, there is no reason why the club shouldn’t be looking at Maamria. There could be some risks, but given the job he did at Burton last season, it wouldn’t be the worst of appointments.
Paul Hurst
Hurst seems to be one of the more popular options amongst Shrewsbury fans having previously taken charge of the club for a year and a half between 2016 and 2018. Although he would leave for Ipswich, there doesn’t seem to be too much bad blood with his prior employer.
Another manager who has left a club this season, Hurst would leave Grimsby in October after just less than three years in charge. Prior knowledge of the club will certainly help the transition and he’d have the fans on his side from the off.
Michael Duff
Duff is a well-respected manager in the third tier, and although things may not have worked out during his spell with Swansea, he is still one of the best options on the market. The former Northern-Ireland international has connections with Director of Football Micky Moore during their time together at Cheltenham Town, and that could draw him to the Croud Meadow.
It would be an ambitious hire but isn’t one which is totally out of question.
Gareth Ainsworth
Potentially the riskiest appointment of the lot. Ainsworth’s tenure as QPR boss was nothing short of shocking, yet he had previously done a rather good job with fellow League One outfit Wycombe Wanderers.
Ainsworth has been vocal about wanting another opportunity and this could be the chance for him to get back into football in a coaching capacity. It would however be one that would divide the fan base.
Be the first to comment