Gavin Cowan urges credit for Shrewsbury Town hierarchy after dramatic home finale

Gavin Cowan said credit must go to the hierarchy at Shrewsbury Town after they signed off their home campaign in dramatic fashion.

Salop made it three games unbeaten at home - and overall - with a late draw against Fleetwood Town, earned thanks to Ismeal Kabia’s long-range thunderbolt. Town have now picked up 27 points from a possible 54 under Cowan.

After full-time, the players and staff paraded around the pitch to thank supporters for their backing, and Cowan reserved special praise for chairman Roland Wycherley and CEO Liam Dooley for their work behind the scenes.

“That’s three unbeaten at home,” said Cowan. “In over half of the games we've achieved points.

“I'm privy to knowing what goes on behind the curtain. That's really hard for fans because they can't always know.

“They need to give the chairman and the CEO a little bit of credit. Of course they make decisions, but they're very reliant on their employees.

“Everybody around the club can do more, and I think they have done more since I have come in the door. That culture's been set.

“When that happens, we raise standards and an ethos - that's what the chairman's paying for.

“At nearly 85-years-old, he can't be working with the day-to-day operations. What he does is he says the yeses and the noes. And he says yes more than no.

“But I do feel like he's been stung a little bit in the past, and that's why we are where we are now.

“That's difficult when someone's been at the club for 30 years. He’s put his heart and soul and always puts the football club first.

“I know that's hard - fans don't see what's behind the curtain, but I wouldn't have come back if I felt like there was any untoward thinking. It gives me the motivation to want to really push on.”

It has been quite a turnaround under Cowan, with Wednesday marking three months since his appointment - his first managerial role in the EFL.

In his 10 home games in charge, Shrewsbury have lost just three times, winning five.

Last Saturday’s final outing at the Croud Meadow is likely to have been the last for several Salop players, with multiple contracts set to expire this summer ahead of a planned rebuild.

Cowan is excited about what lies ahead.

“We've got some great ideas going into pre-season on how we can unite the fans,” he added.

“We don't want the players to be the players over there on the pitch. We want them to be able to be connected to the supporters.

“As a club, we need to move in the right direction. There's a lot to be optimistic about. There's a lot of work to be done.

“We've certainly got to go above and beyond to punch above our weight.”