David Longwell will be Shrewsbury Town youth link
David Longwell will continue working with Shrewsbury Town’s young players in his first-team squad role from next season.
The Scot was academy manager at Town but was drafted into a first-team coaching role after Sam Ricketts was sacked in November.
Longwell has maintained the role since and worked closely with assistant Aaron Wilbraham and Steve Cotterill – from afar – during the manager’s absence through illness.
“I’ll keep doing what I’m doing. It’s a decent role because I can still link in with the young players and that’s a big part of our club,” said Longwell, who previously coached at St Mirren and in America.
“To link with young players and make sure players like Charlie (Caton) and Tom (Bloxham) come through, and Jaden Bevan as a first-year pro next season, who’s been on the bench.
“There’s one or two others, but they are injured. In the position I’m quite fortunate I can work together more, to create that pathway, which I see as essential.”
Academy strikers Caton, 18, and Bloxham, 17, made big impressions on Town in their debut senior appearances towards the end of the season.
Both are likely to be involved in Cotterill’s pre-season plans and should have the chance to impress in friendly matches in July.
“First and foremost they are both good kids, different personalities, but really good kids,” Longwell added. “They both listen, both work hard, I’ve never had bother with either of them when I’ve worked with them in the academy.
“They take things on board and there’s always areas they can improve on. They are not mumblers or moaners, they get on with it and have been really positive for us.
“To get them on the pitch, the manager trusts them in the team, and both have done really well when they played.”
