Shrewsbury Town’s decade in League One: Matt Taylor, Micky Moore and the return of Paul Hurst

But it is safe to say that did not happen. The fallout from Steve Cotterill’s final season in charge continued long into the summer. 

Salop appointed their first director of football in 2023. Rumours of Micky Moore’s arrival at the club began to surface in the final few games of Cotterill’s tenure - and when the boss was asked about it in post-match interviews he revealed it was not something he knew anything about - that was telling. 

Moore finally arrived in the middle of May, but a decision on the future of Cotterill went long into the summer. It was not until the start of June that Shrewsbury announced he was going to leave the club. 

Town’s director of football then began working to get a new manager in at the Croud Meadow. Eventually, he landed upon former Walsall boss Matt Taylor who was appointed following an ‘extensive’ search. 

That was the end of June, and it became a race for Salop to build a competitive squad for the coming season. What then did not help was club captain Luke Leahy putting in a transfer request. He then sealed a move to League One rivals Wycombe. 

Town started the season with a win over Cheltenham - the club Moore had arrived from. They had also taken a number of backroom staff from the Robins. 

Results-wise Town won three of their first five matches giving them a promising start to the season but performances were less than convincing. 

During Matt Taylor’s time in charge scoring goals was always an issue for Shrews. Each time the pressure cranked up on the boss, Salop managed to get a win that felt like it would only delay the inevitable, and then eventually, after a 2-1 defeat at Peterborough at the end of January, having lost seven of their last eight matches, Taylor was relieved of his duties. 

Town were seven points above the relegation zone, but their form saw them hurtling towards it at some speed and so action had to be taken. 

Paul Hurst, who was so successful in his first spell as Shrewsbury manager, was then reappointed and oversaw a brilliant away day victory in his second first match in charge at Northampton. 

He came in with the responsibility of keeping the team in the division, but despite that first win, Town’s form continued to be indifferent. 

Thankfully, key victories at Reading, Port Vale and at home to Carlisle gave Town a cushion and they eventually stayed up on the penultimate day of the campaign thanks to a 1-1 draw at Charlton. 

Shrews had been knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Leeds United in the first round. But they did make it to the third round of the FA Cup where they met arch-rivals Wrexham. 

It was the first meeting between the two sides since Wrexham’s Hollywood pair Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney had bought the club. 

Town were beaten 1-0 on the day meaning the cross-border spoils would belong to Phil Parkinson’s side.