Comment: The American dream is within reach for Shrewsbury Town

After difficult years and uncertainty surrounding the club’s future, they deserve something to look forward to.

This is the closest Shrewsbury have been to completing a takeover. There is still work to do and no timescale has been given for the deal to be completed, but the consortium has cleared a major hurdle.

For supporters who have endured the twists and turns of previous takeover attempts, that alone will bring relief. But the final whistle has not been blown.

There is a temptation to celebrate, and supporters should allow themselves that moment of optimism, but the takeover is not complete. There are still steps to take before the American consortium can officially take charge.

This summer brought two significant landmarks for the club: its 140th anniversary and Roland Wycherley’s 30th year as owner.

Wycherley is the longest-serving and oldest owner in the EFL. There is no doubting what he has achieved in three decades. He arrived at a testing time and helped turn the club around.

There have been promotions, unforgettable moments and goals, trips to Wembley and the move from Gay Meadow to the Croud Meadow.

But there is also no denying the struggles of recent seasons, with the start to this campaign doing little to improve the mood.

Town have too often competed at the wrong end of the division. They are not among League Two’s financial heavyweights and came perilously close to falling out of the Football League last season before a brilliant second-half turnaround rescued them.

The takeover will not be a silver bullet. There is work to be done on the pitch, off it and around the stadium.

Amid years of takeover talk and struggles on the pitch, it has been particularly tough on the supporters. This gives them hope.

They are the ones who spend their hard-earned money walking through the turnstiles, travelling up and down the country and sticking with their team through good times and bad.

Football belongs to the fans. They are the ones I am most pleased for.

Now the end appears to be approaching. Perhaps it is time to get the cowboy hat ready - the American dream may be coming to town.