Business as usual for Shrewsbury boss Michael Appleton despite takeover update

If talks proceed to the next stage, it will be the second time in the last 12 months the club have reached that stage of the negotiations.

And Appleton was asked by the Shropshire Star what the chairman Roland Wycherley’s message to him has been since the news broke.

“Just continue to do what we're doing in terms of looking to improve the squad,” he said. “At the same time, I know what the numbers are in terms of the budget and stuff like that.

“So it is business as usual, really, let them crack on and try and do what they can do off the pitch.

“It is me and the recruitment team dealing with agents. I've done various roles and worked with various people, and done managers' roles before.

“Once this window shuts, I'm sure then there'll be a discussion about what September to January looks like.”

Town’s recruitment was headed up by director of football Micky Moore, but he left the club before the clash against Colchester last weekend.

And Appleton confirmed he is working closely with head of recruitment Tom Ware, who was brought to the club by Moore, as well as chief executive Liam Dooley.

“Tom's obviously involved in it,” Appleton continued. “And between him and me, we're taking the volume of work in terms of, you know, watching players, being aware of who's available, speaking to agents, speaking to clubs.

“So my volume of work has changed quite drastically. But it's something that I've been used to in the past, so I've actually quite enjoyed it.”