Shrewsbury Town will remember Micky Mellon Fondly

Supporters may have been complaining from the terraces in recent weeks, while social media and online forums were awash with 'Mellon out' posts.

They weighted their arguments with moans and groans about the dismal home record. And granted, the former boss had no real defence on that standpoint – six Greenhous Meadow wins since the beginning of last season was simply not enough.

Then there were cries about the dull, unambitious football. Mellon is a manager and football coach who has always prided his side's on playing the game the proper way.

With the ball on the deck, entertaining the locals. Playing through the lines, getting bums off seats in excitement, bringing the good feelings back.

To an extent, that has also been missing, but it wasn't for the lack of trying. Mellon persevered in getting his side to play 'properly'. But caution crept into the squad's mentality and it became impossible to look beyond trying to lock the opposition out.

Playing the 'safe' pass became the default position, not because that is what Mellon was demanding, but because the repetitive groans from the crowd had clearly affected the players and made them petrified to take a risk.

The anti-Mellon faction may enjoy a brief reprieve as exciting, high-profile candidates are linked with the hotseat. But perhaps in the matter of a fortnight or so – supporters may have been wondering why they wished for change.

For the club, supporters, town and county will miss Micky Mellon.

He is a man that loved the area. There is not a single thing that would be too much trouble.

Enjoying life outside of the game with supporters is something that was taken for granted decades ago. But now – particularly the further up the game you go – managers, players and staff lock themselves behind padlocked gates and seem to seldom surface.

Not Mellon. A new store opening on the high street? He'd be there. Getting behind youngsters involved in sport or any sort of leisure activity – he was your man.

It wasn't just an obligation. He lived every second of his job.

No picture or autograph was too many. Mellon adored the surrounding area and its people. That is a blessed rarity.

Yes, rumours may have surfaced recently that the boss was becoming aggravated on a matchday, retaliating by shouting into the stands.

But if you stand there, consistently giving your heart and soul, then having thousands throw insults at you – without knowing the ins-and-outs – well, you can forgive a response.

The former Fleetwood boss performed wonders in his debut campaign.

The memories of some of those League Two victories should live long with Town fans.

The glamour moment will always remain the Chelsea tie. Jose Mourinho's special Premier League champions. Almost humbled by Mellon's tiny Town, with little Andy Mangan leading from the front. More than 10,000 in the stands, fantastic national coverage, things couldn't be better.

They took a nosedive since, else we wouldn't be where we are today, but Mellon's win percent ratio of 42.8 – 53 wins from 125 games – is Shrewsbury's highest ever.

The boss leaves, statistically, Salop's most successful manager of all time.

More aspects deserve a mention. Mellon has overseen the development of a new training ground, where a move is understood to be just around the corner.

While he has developed a fabulous line of young talent from within the club.

Firstly Ryan Woods and Connor Goldson, who went onto bigger things, and soon it will be the turn of Dom Smith, Ethan Jones, Callum Grogan, Kaiman Anderson and co.

The youth teams go younger still. Mellon was always on-hand to help, to improve everyone at the football club.

The history books will shine a positive light on his tenure.