Gavin Cowan: Leading Shrewsbury Town to safety would mean “everything”

Gavin Cowan said it will mean “everything” to officially lead Shrewsbury Town to safety.

Salop sat just two points clear of the League Two relegation zone when Cowan took the reins in late January, having won just five matches.

However, he and his staff have overseen an impressive resurgence, securing seven wins from their 15 matches in charge to move Town 11 points clear with four games remaining.

Shrewsbury could officially secure their Football League status against Oldham Athletic, even in defeat, if results elsewhere go their way.

Asked what safety would mean to him, Cowan said: “Everything. I came back to the club for three reasons. One of them was to repay the chairman for his faith 20 years ago with me and how kind he's been to me since.

“Keeping this club in the league, when I think we all thought it was looking really, really dark at that time, is something that I'll keep with me forever.”

Cowan earned the League Two Manager of the Month award for February after Salop won five games in a row. However, March was less successful, with Town losing four consecutive matches.

Despite that, they have maintained a healthy gap to danger and look to have avoided an end-of-season scrap for survival.

Asked how he will reflect on the achievement personally if it comes, Cowan added: “I don't know. I need some time.

“People keep saying to me, are you enjoying it? The answer is I just haven't had time to enjoy it.

“I'm a compartmentalist and a strategist, so I like to get things done. Once they're done, we can maybe look at it.

“I'm not sure, actually. It's a really good question. I look forward to sitting down with my wife and having a glass of wine and trying to understand what it is that we've done.

“Because I think, from where it was when we came in, without patting ourselves on the back too much, it's been an incredible turnaround.”

After defeat to league leaders Bromley in midweek, Cowan called for more of a “winning mentality” within the squad. He says that remains a key focus during his tenure as he outlined his biggest challenge since arriving.

“Changing the mentality,” he said. “Really trying to drive belief, energy into the group. Not just the players, but the staff.

“It needs addressing. We need to collectively, as players, as staff, everybody needs to change that mentality and get back to being that thriving football club that I've always remembered.”