Shrewsbury Town boss Steve Cotterill backed to improve players

Despite his appointment at Montgomery Waters Meadow late November, Cotterill enjoyed just a month training with his Shrewsbury players before falling ill to Covid-19.

Town went unbeaten in seven league games in that period, as Cotterill was named December manager of the month for League One, in a run of games that went a long way to securing Shrewsbury's safety.

Former academy boss Longwell played a crucial role in assisting the manager upon his appointment – before being named first-team coach and helping new No.2 Aaron Wilbraham in Cotterill's absence – feels the coaching aspect of the manager's game can go 'under-rated'.

"Fortunately we managed to get ourselves out of the position we were in," Longwell said of an end to the League One season that saw Town finish in 17th, the position they occupied for the final few months of the campaign.

"There were games where we were above expectation, we were doing so well at one point, unfortunately the run ended.

"It was up and down a little bit, it would've been good to see if they manager hadn't got ill where we'd get to.

"But it was all about keeping us safe in the league, getting us in a better position – which we are now – and building for next season.

"I've got no doubts at all that the manager is the right person to do that. In the short time he's been, you look at the response he's had.

"There's a lot of confidence in the manager to take this club forward.

"But he also develops players, I think that something that is under-rated, he's got such a way of getting the best and more out of players.

"The future looks really bright with him in charge and we're working hard to support that."

Cotterill is currently undergoing a rebuild of his squad having released more than a dozen out-of-contract players.

His players are currently enjoying a break but will be expected to carry out their own fitness work before pre-season begins.

One player who agreed a new deal offered his way was striker Daniel Udoh, who managed just five goals last season but Cotterill believes he can help coach into a more accomplished centre-forward.