Shrewsbury Town boss Gavin Cowan opens up on importance of his trusted coaching duo

Cowan hailed Haynes and Edwards’ experience and support as vital.

Boss Gavin Cowan described his joint assistant managers as “integral” to his mission at Shrewsbury Town.

Both Jamie Haynes and Dave Edwards have put pen to paper on new deals with the club, alongside Cowan, after helping lead their revival.

Shrewsbury Town assistant Jamie Haynesplaceholder image
Shrewsbury Town assistant Jamie Haynes | SalopPhoto

Ex-Salop youth player Haynes has been Cowan’s right-hand man for several years, having worked together at Brackley Town before arriving at the Croud Meadow. The pair are also business partners through Crossbar Coaching.

Meanwhile, Cowan knows Edwards from his playing days at the club, and the pair went on to co-host the In The Stiffs podcast together.

Now the trio are sharing the dugout at the club they all have deep connections to and have followed closely over the years, with Cowan underlining the importance of his assistants to his work.

“The support is probably the biggest thing for me,” he said. “They're very loyal to me, but they find a really good balance of, as well, challenging me.

“It's important, you can't be a dictator as a manager. Especially when you've got the likes of Dave who's been there, seen it and done it at a really high level, his input's really invaluable.

“Jamie is probably just like another version of me now, because we've been preaching the same process and messages for so long and advancing them.

“It's three good heads, whether they're good heads or not. We won't get it right all of the time, but work ethic, loyalty, hard work and a passion for the club - a passion to do well has been really important to me.

“They're integral to what it is I do, as well as the other staff like Harry Burgoyne and Sean Parrish.

“We're all working extremely hard to try and get the club going in the right direction.”

The trio’s decision to sign fresh terms represents a welcome sense of stability at the club, with the management team now looking to build on their strong start and foundations.

With their futures secured, attention has turned firmly towards shaping the squad ahead of the new season.

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