Shrewsbury Town season review: The struggles, the revival, success stories and what comes next

What began with uncertainty, frustration and growing fears of another relegation eventually transformed into a campaign that ended with optimism, belief and renewed unity.

For long periods, Salop were involved in another miserable struggle near the foot of the table.

Then came the turnaround. Gavin Cowan’s appointment breathed fresh energy into the football club, sparking a dramatic improvement in results and performances that ultimately secured survival with games to spare.

Young players emerged, key loan signings made their mark and there was a genuine sense Shrewsbury have something stable to build upon moving forward.

Successes

The biggest success of Shrewsbury Town’s season was survival.

When Gavin Cowan arrived, Salop were hovering dangerously close to the drop zone and fears of back-to-back relegations were growing. Cowan quickly changed the mood, restoring belief, optimism and confidence to a struggling side.

He was supported strongly behind the scenes by Dave Edwards, whose experience proved invaluable, and assistant Jamie Haynes, whose affection for the club has helped drive Town’s revival.

Despite another testing campaign, there were still several positives on the pitch. Will Boyle brought composure and authority to the defence, while Luca Hoole and Josh Ruffels produced consistently impressive performances.

The loan signings also made a major impact. Iwan Morgan provided the spark Town had been lacking in attack, while Matt Cox was outstanding between the posts.

Perhaps most encouragingly, the future appears bright. Town’s young players continued to emerge, with Will Gray excelling in the closing weeks of the season, Isaac England gaining valuable Football League experience and Hugo Aiston making history.

Even so, survival alone will not be viewed as success by supporters or those within the club. But the resilience, togetherness and momentum built during the run-in have at least provided foundations Shrewsbury can now look to build upon.

Failures

There is little doubt this is another season Shrewsbury Town supporters will not remember fondly.

Once again, Salop found themselves stuck in the mire and embroiled in a battle to avoid relegation, only a year after dropping out of League One.

Michael Appleton’s tenure never truly ignited. Tasked with leading Town towards a brighter future following relegation, he departed midway through the campaign with the club still struggling for consistency.

Recruitment, too, proved mixed. Trey Ogunsuyi arrived on loan with hopes he could provide a spark in attack, but the impact never truly materialised.

There is also an acceptance that change is needed within the squad, with several players now heading for the exit door as Town prepare for another rebuild this summer.

Above all, though, Shrewsbury’s biggest issue was goals. While they became far more organised and resilient defensively under Gavin Cowan, they still finished the season as the second-lowest scorers in the division.

John Marquis was unable to provide the cutting edge expected, while George Lloyd’s tireless work rarely translated into goals on a regular basis.

A return of just 42 league goals was simply not good enough and is an area that must improve moving forward.

Managers

All hail Gavin Cowan and his management team.

There were raised eyebrows among sections of the fanbase when he was appointed, but the former Brackley Town boss quickly silenced any doubts.

It was Cowan’s first role in the Football League, yet he adapted seamlessly, steering a Shrewsbury side that had looked destined for a desperate relegation battle to safety with games to spare.

Upon arriving, Cowan spoke of “19 wars” still to come. In the end, Town only needed to fight 16 of them, securing survival with three matches remaining.

His manager-of-the-month award for February was richly deserved. It was a remarkable period for Town supporters, with Shrewsbury embarking on a five-match winning run that proved pivotal to their revival.

Cowan also matched a club record held by Graham Turner, Jimmy Quinn and Chic Bates by winning six of his opening 10 matches in charge. Just as importantly, he quickly forged a strong connection with supporters, with his passion for the club and willingness to engage with the fanbase proving refreshing.

Appleton oversaw a respectable FA Cup run to the third round, though his tenure is unlikely to be remembered particularly fondly.

However, his contribution to Town’s eventual turnaround should not be overlooked.

January signings such as Iwan Morgan and Matt Cox played key roles in the fight for survival, while Isaac Lee also emerged as a promising addition.

Off the field

The season had barely begun before there were major changes at Shrewsbury Town, with director of football Micky Moore departing the club.

The announcement followed Salop’s 4-0 defeat to Tranmere Rovers and early Carabao Cup exit, ending Moore’s two-and-a-half-year spell in the role. During his tenure, Town suffered relegation from League One before enduring another difficult campaign.

Supporters have largely welcomed the structural changes that followed, with Gavin Cowan taking on the title of “manager” and no immediate plans to appoint another director of football.

There were positives financially, too. During the season, the club revealed losses for the year ending June 30, 2025, had been cut to £600,000 - an improvement of around £1 million and less than half the previous year’s figure. Although the accounts did not directly relate to the campaign just gone, they were viewed as an encouraging sign behind the scenes.

The club being for sale continues to dominate discussion off the pitch. Recent reports suggested Shrewsbury were in serious talks with an American consortium following the collapse of a second potential takeover last September.

What next?

The rebuild at Shrewsbury Town is already under way.

A core group of players has been retained, but with several departures confirmed, Gavin Cowan now has the chance to shape the squad in his own image and fully implement the style and identity he wants moving forward.

Improving Town’s goal return will be a major priority. Shrewsbury struggled badly in front of goal last season, and attacking reinforcements are clearly needed this summer.

As it stands, George Lloyd is the only recognised senior striker retained, while Callum Stewart - who spent last season out on loan - has been made available for transfer.

Cowan has already admitted the club’s budget is not “favourable”, but there is a quiet confidence within the management team that Shrewsbury can still compete and punch above their weight.

The second half of last season provided genuine encouragement, with Cowan’s arrival restoring belief both on and off the pitch.

There is optimism around the club - cautious optimism perhaps - but, crucially, there is now stability.

Cowan and his staff have committed their futures by signing new deals, and Shrewsbury will hope the revival seen in recent months can become the foundation for something far more significant.