Graham Turner delighted as Shrewsbury Town secure Football League safety

Legendary former boss Graham Turner has expressed his delight at Shrewsbury Town retaining their Football League status.

Gavin Cowan has made an impressive start to life as a manager in the EFL, steering Salop clear of danger and securing survival with three matches to spare.

Few are better qualified to assess his impact than former Town boss Turner, who, when he stepped down in 2014, was the longest-serving manager in English football.

Across two spells at Shrewsbury during his 35-year managerial career, Turner led the club to promotion, on memorable FA Cup runs and achieved several records.

Speaking after Shrewsbury secured safety in League Two last weekend, he told the Shropshire Star: “I am delighted.

“I know there's a lot of people there who work very hard to maintain the club and even help it prosper - for the sake of the hardcore supporters and those working tirelessly behind the scenes - and I'm pleased for those people.

“It's a massive, big thing - a big part of their lives and it's nice to see the club achieve safety now.”

Turner is widely regarded as one of Shrewsbury’s greatest managers. He made more than 350 league appearances for Salop and became player-manager in the 1978/79 season, leading the club to the Third Division title.

He later managed Aston Villa, Wolves and Hereford before returning to Shropshire in 2010 for a second spell in charge. It was at Hereford where Turner experienced relegation from the Football League himself.

During his opening 10 games, Cowan matched Turner’s record of six wins - a best start now shared by Cowan, Turner, Jimmy Quinn and Chic Bates.

“It's a great achievement and the manager deserves the credit,” Turner said.

“He's done an excellent job there. Survival was the important thing and that's what he's achieved and I am delighted with that.

“I think all of the supporters will be, and he played a big part in that, the manager, and good luck to him.”

Cowan has regularly spoken about the importance of togetherness and connection at the club - something Turner agrees has been crucial to the turnaround.

The 78-year-old said: “The off the field staff, the manager, the assistant manager, even the physio, they've got to generate that team spirit and get it all across to the players, and what they're playing for.

“It's that team spirit that they can bring to the club, and you need people working hard for each other. I'm sure they've achieved that in the time they've been there.”

Town now have three pressure-free games remaining, with trips to Crawley Town and Gillingham either side of their final home match against Fleetwood Town. Turner believes the run-in offers Cowan a chance to plan ahead.

“It's a chance perhaps to give one or two of the younger players an opportunity - to have a close look at the playing staff,” he continued.

“He'll obviously want to make one or two changes, I'm sure of that.

“It will be an opportunity to take stock of the players he's got and which ones he wants to keep and which ones show in the character, even in games like this where safety's been secured and it's now just playing for a bit of pride.”