Keeping things the same could be key for Sam Ricketts at Shrewsbury Town

‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ has never sounded so apt as Ricketts faced a test by walking in on the coattails of Danny Coyne and Eric Ramsay, who have got Shrewsbury singing from the same hymn sheet.

It led to fears from sections of supporters that the possibility of ripping things up and starting again would disrupt the rhythm that has brought five wins from six games.

New boss Ricketts, unveiled to the press yesterday after he completed his move from Wrexham on Monday, brought a big backroom staff into the Racecourse Ground when taking on that job in the summer.

But his entourage at Sundorne Castle is significantly smaller. In fact, he has so far brought just one face with him from the Welsh side, a human performance analyst – an unfamiliar role but a sign that Ricketts is a modern, forward-thinking coach in tune with the evolving game.

There were fears that his No.2 at Wrexham, Graham Barrow, may follow suit thus knocking Coyne and, in particular Ramsay, down the pecking order and away from first-team duties.

But Ricketts knows things need to remain how they are.

He yesterday noted what a good place Shrewsbury were in and it would be foolish to fiddle with too much, over-complicate things. Too many cooks spoil the broth.

He stressed that clarity was of the essence.

Academy boss Ramsay, 27, will remain right among the Town players, where he is rated so highly and has already formed a trust and respect.

Coyne will likely work with his goalkeepers but he will play a key role as a right-hand man to his former Wales team-mate Ricketts. Coyne knows Shrewsbury inside out and will be the new boss’s valuable experience.

Crucially, again to aid the ‘seamlessness’ as Town introduced their third boss of 2018, is Ricketts’ familiarity with his new staff. Ricketts, Coyne and Ramsay already know each other and that is a huge boost for the club. They know how each other work and what makes each other tick.

The new Salop boss also explained that the trio share the same core beliefs and philosophy when it comes to how the game is played.

Coyne and Ramsay introduced a new high-intensity, energetic style after John Askey was sacked more than three weeks ago and Ricketts will surely head down that path, training Town into an even sharper unit.

There was an attention to detail from Ricketts yesterday that should excite Town fans. The addition Jon Pitts, a human performance coach, to drain the final drops of percentage out of his players through nutrition and mental wellbeing just one example. The former Telford and Wolves defender said he has his own rules, he sees day-to-day training life as a fun, comfortable environment, but there is a time to work.

His playing career, across nine clubs, took him from the Conference to the Premier League. There are no scenarios that will daunt him, or provide something he hasn’t experienced before.

He has won plenty, numerous promotions and is used to fighting it out at the top. Lofty targets of a League One promotion charge – at whatever stage of his career here – will not faze him.

Ricketts sat down with the local press for half an hour yesterday and shone with a steely determination and focus in what he believes.

In a 16-year playing career he worked his way from the bottom to the top and learned the game while on the rise.

He comes with a reputation of being a student of the game and it was obvious why he is so highly rated.

He was slick, eloquent and firm in everything he said. He is an individual from the modern game aiming to move Shrewsbury forward, while being true to his old fashioned workmanlike principles. Ricketts made promises of what he expected at Montgomery Waters Meadow. The only promise he can keep though is a promise of nothing less than 100 per cent effort from him and his team.

By his own admission, Ricketts did not possess gifted Premier League talent, so he made it to the top at Hull and Bolton with hard work, commitment and dedication.

It was obvious from his words that is the least he expects from any player under him.

If Ricketts can translate his vision on to the pitch at the Meadow then he should further improve this squad of talented players.

If everything falls into place and Ricketts’ tenure is as slick as yesterday’s unveiling, then his time in Shropshire could be a fruitful one.