Gavin Cowan lays out plans for Shrewsbury Town's "big summer" ahead

Gavin Cowan said it is full throttle at Shrewsbury Town as plans ramp up for a “big summer ahead”.

Cowan has fired the starting gun on Town’s summer rebuild after securing their Football League status, with conversations regarding the squad and recruitment already well underway.

The Salop boss said it will be done with similar resources to the current ones, but he is driven to move the club higher up the table after a difficult season.

“We don’t start winding down, it's going to be a big summer,” Cowan said.

“We'll continue as we are, with similar budgets and similar resources. Moving forward, that's what I have to work with. I will work with that and certainly make the best of that as well, which is something that I've done in previous roles.

“It'll be a big summer for me, certainly retaining some of the players here, but then equally going out and finding fresh faces and making us a very athletic, strong, capable team at this level.

“Our budget might not be in the higher echelons of the league, but we have to punch above our weight because we're Shrewsbury Town. This football club has to achieve.

“I want to be the person that makes us punch above our weight in terms of budget. But certainly the aspiration for this football club is to be right in and amongst it.

“We'll do everything we can. We can't turn water into wine, but God willing, we can make the best of everything that we've got here.”

While their final three games of the season are stress-free after safety in League Two was confirmed, Cowan says his days have become even busier.

He added: “The day-to-day logistics don't change. The operations around the place are very much in full flow.

“But now my days are longer, a little bit more intense, because I'm speaking with the CEO and the chairman and my head of recruitment on what's out there and how we need to be proactive.”

Asked if this period without pressure is valuable extra time to prepare for next season, Cowan said: “Absolutely, it's a luxury. That's why I have to go into overdrive.

“No one else has to, but I think it's important that I do, myself and the CEO.”