Aaron Wilbraham has repeatedly told returning Shrewsbury Town boss Steve Cotterill: You have let nobody down
Aaron Wilbraham has dismissed returning manager Steve Cotterill's claims that he 'let people down' as a 'joke' after revealing the Shrewsbury boss had admitted his frustrated feelings on multiple occasions.
Cotterill is set to return for his first Shrewsbury match in four months as Town welcome Oxford to Montgomery Waters Meadow on Saturday.
The manager spent around 50 days in hospital over two spells battling severe Covid-19 and after effects including Covid pneumonia. No.2 Wilbraham revealed at one stage the manager was bed-bound for 69 of 80 days, but did not go a single day without being in touch.
He missed 24 games in all but continued managing from afar while Wilbraham and David Longwell, remarkably, helped Shrewsbury secure League One safety.
And Wilbraham admitted the boss, who was only appointed in November, shared his frustration with his Meadow stand-in, feeling like he had let down his players and everybody involved when results went against Shrewsbury. Wilbraham dismissed those suggestions as 'mad' and 'a joke'.
Ahead of an 'emotional' reunion on Saturday, Wilbraham said: "It's unbelievable news really, considering he only got out of hospital six weeks.
"This has been his main aim, to try to get back to a game before the end of the season and I know he's worked incredibly hard to do that, it's been his mission really.
"The fact he spent 69 out of 80 days in bed at one point, to get back to where he's got, it'll be emotional for him and everyone.
"I've not seen his face since January 1 at all, I've not done any Zoom or Facetime, I've not seen him, it'll be great for everyone to see him back doing what he loves doing.
"He's hated every minute of being off. He must have said nine or 10 times to me that he feels like he's let people down not being here and stuff.
"I was like 'you're mad', he's never stopped working since he's been away, the fact he feels he's let people down is a joke, really, he hasn't let anybody down. He's been unbelievable.
"For him to be back at a game, doing what he loves best, is great for him."
Cotterill told Wilbraham news of his plans to return at the weekend last night and it has not yet been decided whether the manager will be in the dugout or watching from the stands, though Town's assistant confessed it would be difficult for a manager with Cotterill's passion to be seated in the Roland Wycherley Stand and not on the sidelines.
But the manager, who is still on medication, which has been lowered, will deliver the team talk to his players before the game, at half-time, and after the final whistle, as Salop face the play-off chasing U's.
Wilbraham admitted, after four months and 24 matches away, the impact it will have on the group stands to be seismic. He added: "It'll be a massive boost for the lads, everyone missed him, they were asking when he'd be back after three or four days and it's been three or four months.
"He's been to the gym and is getting stronger, he's due to go today, he knows how important it is to build his strength up.
"He would've loved to be in training today and tomorrow but what he doesn't want to do is have that take it out of him for Saturday, he's all about the game day, he really looks forward to matchdays. It must be a special, special feeling for him."
