Shrewsbury Town supporter groups react to Roland Wycherley’s takeover response

Shrewsbury Town supporter groups have thanked owner Roland Wycherley for his open letter but urged him to complete the proposed takeover swiftly.

Town’s owner of 30 years responded to a series of questions put to him by supporter groups about the club’s future and the proposed takeover by an American consortium over the weekend.

The groups have welcomed Wycherley’s response but urged him to “work at pace” to complete the proposed takeover.

A response published today (September 21) read: “We thank you for the response from yourself and the board of directors to our open letter. We appreciate the transparency you have shown here and in the three club statements released over the past fortnight.”

It added: “We thank you for more than 30 years of dedicated service to our football club. It will not be forgotten.

“Nonetheless, having yourself stressed the urgency of the situation today, we encourage you to work at pace to get the process completed.”

In his open letter, Wycherley said the club would have a “competitive” budget for this season and next if the proposed deal with Scott Davidson’s consortium were to fall through.

The club’s owner also reiterated his belief that new investment and ownership is “what Shrewsbury Town urgently needs”.

The coalition of supporter groups said Wycherley’s comments had strengthened their belief that Davidson’s consortium is the right group to take Town forward, while acknowledging that nobody could predict the future with “100 per cent certainty”.

They said they took confidence from Wycherley’s comments that his due diligence on the prospective new owners had been thorough.

The groups added that they were looking forward to hearing more from the consortium about their detailed plans for the club.

They said information already made public had shown the consortium had the necessary funds, had a community focus they felt was in keeping with Town’s values and would bring knowledge of British football through Davidson’s experience with Scottish club Spartans.

Davidson, a Miami-based real estate businessman, is seeking to take control of Town as part of a consortium which has been approved by the EFL and Independent Football Regulator to proceed with the proposed takeover.

The response was signed by the STFC Official Supporters’ Club, Salopcast, South Stand Flags, Away Travel Club, Super Blues Committee, STFC Her Game Too Ambassador, Blue and Amber Fanzine, Proud Salopians, STFC Away Supporters and Salopchat Messageboard.