Iwan Morgan reveals how close he came to rejoining Shrewsbury Town

Iwan Morgan has reflected on his Shrewsbury Town loan spell and bond with Gavin Cowan - and revealed how close he came to a summer return.

Morgan left a lasting impression during his short spell with Salop in the second half of last season, playing a key role in helping the club retain their Football League status.

Town pursued a return for the 20-year-old this summer, but a move never materialised, with Morgan instead joining Grimsby Town from Brentford for an undisclosed fee.

Reflecting on his time in Shropshire, Morgan told BBC Radio Humberside: “It helped me massively.

“It didn’t go the way I planned it originally. Coming in under Michael Appleton, I was really looking forward to working with him, but after a few games he got sacked.

“As a loan kid you are wondering what the new gaffer will be like, will he like youngsters, does he play a certain style which I might not fit in.

“Gavin Cowan came in, and it didn’t start off on the right foot. He just said he didn’t really trust in whether I wanted to be at the club because I was on loan.

“I just had to try and earn the respect and show him that it doesn’t matter what badge I wear or who I play for, I’ll give 100 per cent.

“I am glad I managed to earn his respect, and I enjoyed every moment.

“There were talks of me going back this summer as well, which for me would have been probably ideal as well, especially working under him.”

Morgan scored three goals during his spell and quickly became a firm favourite at the Meadow.

Cowan said during the transfer window that he would “love” to be reunited with the forward - and Morgan has now revealed just how close that came to happening.

Asked if a return to Salop came close, Morgan said: “Yeah, close. There were a lot of conversations which happened.

“I personally said to him (Cowan) that I am more than happy to go back under you, just for you.

“The club gave me a lot, especially for my first senior loan. They gave me everything I needed - the support, the confidence to go out every week and play.

“But when Grimsby came in, I looked at them both, and even though I loved my time at Shrewsbury, I couldn’t turn this down.”

Morgan added on what gave Grimsby the edge: “The gaffer, the history, how I couldn’t believe that they didn’t go up last season.

“I never played against them but they were always the talk of the town. Wherever you went it was ‘you don’t want to play against Grimsby’.

“I just knew it had to be a part of it and try and help push this club back to League One.”