Town chief hails ‘fantastic fans’

Shrewsbury managing director Rob Bickerton has hailed the club’s “fantastic” support through a troubled season - and urged the Town faithful to stick with their team through the closing weeks of the campaign.Despite a run of just one victory in 18 games leaving the club with a battle to avoid relegation, average attendances at Oteley Road have remained well over 5,000.

With home local derbies against Chester and Wrexham still to come, that is a figure which is likely to rise still further.

And Bickerton, who is impressed with those figures, is urging Town fans to remain loyal to the cause as Shrewsbury attempt to ensure they are not dragged further into the relegation mire.

“The support for the club has been fantastic and it’s been encouraging to see the numbers in which the fans have turned out in when you consider the run of results we have had,” he said.

“We are still third in the League for average attendances. I wouldn’t say it has surprised me because I knew how passionate the fans were about their club, but it has certainly pleased me.”

“They have got behind the club all season, even before the manager change, and I’m sure they will continue to do that until the end of the season.

“It’s important that everyone gets behind the team throughout the 90 minutes and if there are any grievances that need airing, do that at the end.”

Shrewsbury’s away followings also continue to stand up well, and that is unlikely to change in the current double header of away matches.

A sizeable away support was expected at Chesterfield today, while it should be the same at Morecambe on Tuesday when free coach travel is available for all those who had a wasted visit to Lancashire for the initial game in February.

That was controversially called off just 45 minutes before the scheduled kick-off due to a small area of the pitch being frozen.

Defender Darran Kempson remains on loan at Accrington, with a 24-hour recall, but has trained with Shrewsbury this week.