Fan groups demand answers over Shrewsbury Town’s future

A host of Shrewsbury Town supporter groups have united to demand answers over the club’s future and proposed takeover.

A letter has been sent to chairman Roland Wycherley MBE calling for “more transparency” about the “future plans for the club”.

It has been formed and endorsed by a number of groups affiliated with and connected to the club: the Official Supporters Club, Salopcast, South Stand Flags, Super Blues Committee, Her Game Too - STFC, Blue and Amber Fanzine, Away Travel Club, Proud Salopians, STFC Away Supporters, and the Salopchat Messageboard.

The letter, released today (September 6), poses six questions and calls for a public response by Sunday, September 20.

It comes after club chief executive Liam Dooley said last month that the proposed takeover of Shrewsbury Town by an American consortium “continues to move forward”.

The six questions cover the takeover process, the identity of the prospective buyer and the expected timescale for the deal.

The groups ask whether the chairman is co-operating fully with the Independent Football Regulator’s process, including signing and submitting all required paperwork.

They also ask whether he believes the buyer is the right person to take Shrewsbury Town forward and, if so, whether the buyer’s identity can be made public.

Another question focuses on the timescale for the takeover, with the groups saying the process “seems to have dragged on for some time” and that greater transparency would “ease anxiety among supporters”.

It also asks whether the chairman has the resources to fund a competitive budget for the remainder of this season and next season should the takeover not be completed.

The final question asks what supporters can do to help ensure a “smooth and orderly transition” to a new ownership group.

The letter also acknowledges Mr Wycherley’s 30 years as owner, praising his achievements while warning that the club’s recent struggles could “tarnish that record”.

It states: “Your accomplishments in that time are appreciated and will live forever in the club’s history: reversing our decline of the 1990s, delivering promotions and trips to Wembley, securing a new stadium.

“It is a record I am sure you look back at with pride, and justly so. Recent years, however, threaten to tarnish that record.”

Mr Wycherley purchased the Football League club in July 1996 when it was carrying debts of around £750,000. He has since become the oldest and longest-serving owner in the EFL.

The search for a new owner took a significant step forward in June when terms were agreed with a prospective American consortium.

Throughout the process so far, Mr Wycherley has remained responsible for the day-to-day running of the club and continued to fund Town’s transfer activity, including the payment of transfer fees this summer.

The two-page letter concludes: “Your success is our success.

“We all want to see Shrewsbury Town prosper, but right now we have concerns that it is strong and robust enough to meet the challenges it faces.

“We simply ask for you to address our points and tell us the plan to have it standing tall once more.”

Shrewsbury Town Football Club has been approached for comment.