Why now? Shrewsbury Town CEO Liam Dooley explains timing of Gavin Cowan's appointment

Former Town favourite Dave Edwards has been named as his assistant, alongside ex-Salop youth player Jamie Haynes. Dooley said the club were keen for their next appointment to have strong ties to both the club and the surrounding area, believing that was vital in the current situation.

Dooley said: "Why now is the question probably that a lot of supporters are asking. 

"We have supported the previous head coach with the players that we brought in, but they're not just his players, they're players that have been signed as a recruitment process that we think will make our squad better and we believe we've done that. 

"We wanted to give Michael (Appleton), the best possible chance into the window, but football is about results.

"We came to the point where we thought with four home games in the next five that it was really important that we did something now to change the form that we were in and hopefully give ourselves the best chance for the remainder of the season. 

"We wanted our next head coach and our current head coach to have ties to the club. We thought that was important. 

"We wanted them to understand the club, the area, the supporters, really be in a position to galvanise that.

"We identified that his teams are hard to beat and he was doing a good job in the league below. We thought he was worthy of the opportunity in the league that we are now."

Cowan is well known in the county following his playing spells with Shrewsbury and AFC Telford United. He began his managerial career at the New Bucks Head in 2018 before leading Brackley Town to their first-ever promotion to the National League.

Despite operating as one of the only part-time teams at the level, he left Brackley 15th in the standings.

Dooley believes Cowan's personality and leadership qualities can help lift the mood around the club as they battle to move clear of the relegation zone.

He added: "The first thing to say is the positivity that Gavin has. He's a really infectious, driven character, not just on the football field but away from that in business. 

"He's very successful in what he's turned his hand to so far and that's something that we want to bring to the football club.

"He's trying to drive that message of unity to the players, to the staff. That's what we think we are lacking right now and something that we hope he can do.

"If he brings that motivation, that passion to the players on a Saturday and we start winning games of football, the mood around the place will change and we think he's got the potential to do that."