Standing ovation, big smiles and ambitious plans as Shrewsbury Town enter new era

Scott Davidson and Brad Friedel have enjoyed considerable success in their respective careers, and now they are determined to build something special at their new club.

Baby steps, though, was the message. They hope progress can be quick, but there will be no overnight surge up the divisions. They want to listen, take measured steps and, above all, get things right.

There was a glimpse of the excitement surrounding the takeover when Davidson and Friedel received a standing ovation from supporters as they entered Thursday evening’s fans’ forum. Hopes are high that the future can be as bright as the beaming smile that rarely left the face of the club’s new owner, who is clearly raring to get started.

At their first press conference since the takeover, Davidson, Friedel and chief executive Liam Dooley were united in their message: they want to make Town a club everyone connected with can be proud of.

There is an ambition to climb the football pyramid, a desire to build sustainably and a determination to get things right both on and off the pitch.

But perhaps the most striking message was their willingness to listen. Davidson was keen to stress that the new ownership group do not arrive believing they have all the answers. They want to understand the club, its supporters and the wider community before deciding how best to move forward.

Davidson also made a point of how he wants to be addressed. Simply Scott. No official titles, no Mr Davidson. He wants to be approachable to everyone, from supporters to staff and the media.

His love of football was evident throughout. He may now own the club, but sees himself more as its steward, determined to put supporters at the heart of its future.

There is a firm footballing presence alongside him in Friedel. The former goalkeeper, a Premier League icon, has a clear vision for his role and intends to be a daily presence, working closely with the management team.

The backing of boss Gavin Cowan was also clear. The relationship between the manager and the new sporting director will develop over time, but the ownership group believe their values align and are determined to give his team the tools to succeed.

There was a lighter side to proceedings, too. The relationship between Davidson and Friedel was clearly evident, with plenty of good-natured exchanges involving Dooley, who has worked closely with them in the build-up to the takeover.

Davidson even joked about making the chief executive’s life miserable with his planned regular presence at the club.

The banter came naturally, with the three appearing comfortable in each other's company. It offered an encouraging first impression of a group who have already spent considerable time working towards making the takeover happen.

The message to supporters was to get behind the new era, share their ideas and become part of the journey. It may take time, but the new ownership group are embracing the challenge.

Ultimately, they know words will only go so far. The challenge now is to deliver on their promises, and give supporters something to believe in.

Their ambition is clear. They want to bring success to Shrewsbury - and make everyone proud to be part of it.