Gavin Cowan details the recruitment process behind Shrewsbury Town’s rebuild

Shrewsbury Town boss Gavin Cowan has revealed how he is leaning on and collaborating with the club’s head of recruitment this summer.

With Cowan confirmed as the club’s ‘manager’, rather than head coach, Shrewsbury have reverted to a previous structure without a director of football - and there are currently no plans for that to change.

As a result, Cowan is heavily involved in recruitment this summer, working closely with chief executive Liam Dooley and head of recruitment Tom Ware.

Cowan explained what each member of the team brings to the process and how they work together collaboratively.

“I'm really fortunate to have our head of recruitment, Tom (Ware),” he said.

“He's got a plethora of knowledge around stats and understanding of these young players.

“You have to utilise your team. It's not something that I'm going to be an expert at.

“But what he's able to do is present players to me for my consideration that are doing really well and have got high stats and a good compatibility with us. So we're fortunate to have that.

“I've got a really good knowledge of the National League. I've got a good knowledge of the Football League.

“Tom's got a great knowledge of all sorts of Premier League 2 teams and lads coming in on loan, as well as the EFL.

“Between us as a team, we're trying to just make sure we get the right balance and the right group.”

The loan market was used heavily during the recent campaign, with Cowan having seven loanees at his disposal during the second half of the season.

It is likely Shrewsbury will utilise that market again, with Cowan repeatedly stressing that Salop are not among the financial heavyweights in League Two.

Speaking after the season concluded, he said: “I'll be very quick to say that our budget isn't favourable. That's just where we are at the moment. I don't think there's any point in patronising anyone about that.

“But ultimately, I think it's important to take ownership as well. Myself and the head of recruitment, Tom, who's been particularly excellent for me the last three or four weeks. We've been locked in a room together…so I’m feeling for him a little bit at the moment.

“His skill is identifying data and players and abilities and creating a buffet of information for me to choose from. So, we'll take ownership of that.”