Graham Coughlan haunted by Town woe

The former Town captain, now assistant manager at League One rivals Southend, skippered Paul Simpson's Shrews in the 2009 League Two play-off final at Wembley against Gillingham.

But Town lost 1-0 in front of 53,706, and, more than six years on, the defeat still rankles with the 40-year-old.

Coughlan, who scored seven goals in 89 appearances for Town from 2008-2010, said: "Naturally when you lose and captain the side in a Wembley final, you come away disappointed.

"That was what happened at Shrewsbury and it overshadows the memories I have of my time there.

"I was brought to the club to earn promotion and as captain I failed in what I was brought in to achieve.

"Memories from the club aren't great due to not earning promotion with them. I need to mention the chairman Roland Wycherley, who was fantastic.

"He gave us every tool in the box and I felt I'd let him down slightly."

But it was at Shrewsbury where Coughlan – who has Wembley team-mate David Worrall at Roots Hall – was able to get a foot on the coaching ladder.

And he's indebted to the club for helping him with the next phase of his career.

He said: "I'd been coaching a bit in the academies at Plymouth Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday, but Shrewsbury gave me a big opportunity.

"Paul Simpson and Dave Hughes were great and allowed me to participate in a number of coaching duties.

"Dave was one of the best youth coaches I've ever worked with and I was honoured and privileged to work with him.

"You look at the likes of Connor Goldson and Tom Bradshaw who have come through the ranks at Shrewsbury and gone on to do really well, which shows they're doing things right.

"Dave Hughes is with the Welsh FA now and is involved with the youth squads there and Paul is up at Newcastle United now working with Steve McClaren."

Coughlan was released by Town in 2010 after helping the club finish 12th, nine points off the play-offs. The Dubliner, who then went to Southend, admits it was no surprise.

He said: "It was pretty black and white, to be honest. You tend to find the exit signs are there when promotion isn't achieved.

"That's what happened and I had no qualms at all. When I joined them they were in League Two and when I left they were still there."

But the much-travelled former Livingston, Plymouth, Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham stopper is proud of his time at Shrewsbury.

He said: "I really enjoyed it and it's a well-run club with good people working there. Kenny Dalglish came on a promotional trip to Shrewsbury and spoke really highly of the facilities.

"Roy Keane also brought his Ipswich Town team to the New Meadow and was massively impressed with the set-up.

"When people of that ilk are speaking of the club like that, it shows what sort of a club it is."