Pete Wilding: Kenny Jackett Shrewsbury Town appointment would be a pleasant surprise

Jackett is the supporters' choice after leaving Wolves, but chief executive Brian Caldwell last week said 'unemployed Championship managers' were holding out for bigger jobs.

But ex-Swansea and Millwall boss Jackett revealed on Saturday that he was 'open-minded' on his next role, saying he wanted to make a difference at an 'under-achieving' club not necessarily from the Championship.

Silky midfielder Wilding, who played under Jake King and Kevin Ratcliffe during his six-year Gay Meadow spell, also revealed his shock at the way Micky Mellon departed two weeks ago before joining National League Tranmere.

"The chairman and the board had to make a decision and I imagine it was not very easy," said Wilding, who now works in youth recruitment at Stoke City. "Roland (Wycherley) has had a few managerial decisions to make going back, but he does them all in the best interests of the club. The club is his life.

"I was very surprised that Micky Mellon went to Tranmere. After seeing Micky manage in League One and League Two, I was very surprised."

Caldwell told the Shropshire Star that the club had identified their targets, while the odds of Scottish former Inverness chief John Hughes dipped after he was linked with the post.

On the likelihood of attracting Jackett, Wilding said: "It would be a very big surprise if he went to Shrewsbury, but it'd be a very pleasant one.

"We don't know what kind of budget someone like Jackett would want but there is a pretty good budget at Town.

"The majority would see the appointment of somebody from lower down as negative. But I think supporters need to be realistic.

"It's no secret the chairman wants to get into the Championship but I don't think the resources or squad are there yet."