Sam Ricketts: Fan meeting was to build unity at Shrewsbury Town
Manager Sam Ricketts has revealed he held an informal meeting with a select group of Shrewsbury fans to unite and build a connection that can lead to success.
Ricketts and head of performance Jon Pitts met with a dozen or so Town supporters last week to discuss the direction of the club and the manager’s plans.
Former Wales international and Wrexham chief Ricketts says, for Town to be successful, everyone must be together and pulling in the same direction. He was pleased with how the meeting, which lasted for three hours, played out and believed it was beneficial for those in attendance.
“I think it was really important (to get the fans in),” said Ricketts.
“I think as a club you should engage with supporters because I think ultimately we’re here because of the supporters.
“It was to give them a little insight into what we try to do and what goes on at the club. They support the club and go above and beyond in their efforts home and away or with other things like the Supporters’ Parliament.
“It’s really important we have that connection – players and supporters, staff and supporters – ultimately we want to be successful. It means we all have to be understanding and pulling together.”
The meeting came a few days after Ricketts had took criticism from sections of the Montgomery Waters Meadow crowd during the late comeback victory over Wycombe. The boss, whose side play a crunch relegation six-pointer at Southend today, added: “It covered a wide range of things. From everyone’s point of view we found it beneficial, certainly from my point of view to understand the club more.
“Also to understand the club from the supporters’ eyes a little more, possibly. They also understand the circumstances we work in.
“It’s important they understand the hard work behind the scenes to try to win as many games as we can.”
Ricketts said he would be open to holding such a meeting again.
“I really want everyone to be united, every club I’ve been at that’s successful you have to unite everyone,” he said. “That doesn’t mean there’s been fractions, it’s just about trying to share what we do, share as much as we can and give a real insight.
“Big clubs like Man City had their (TV) programme (on Netflix), they’re trying to give an insight to what goes on.”
