League Two strugglers, Shrewsbury Town, have recently announced the dismissal of experienced manager Michael Appleton, with last night’s late defeat away at Cambridge United confirming the former Lincoln City coach’s fate.
The Shropshire outfit are sat just two points above the drop zone with only 27 points in 22 games, with a second consecutive relegation emerging as a real possibility.
This article will explore which managers should take charge if the Shrews are to stay clear of the relegation zone and move forward as a club.
Luke Garrard – Boreham Wood
Luke Garrard has impressed for Boreham Wood in the National League for several years, guiding the Wood to numerous play-off finishes against the odds.
Currently sitting third in the division, a second consecutive promotion is firmly on the cards for the London club.
Initially, Garrard was renowned for his pragmatic, well-drilled and organised approach with the club, but since their recent return to the National League, there appears to be a more exciting, free-flowing approach in his squad’s playing style.
If the coach were to be appointed at Shrewsbury Town, his ability to organise a team to grind out results would suit the club’s current objective to stave off relegation fears. The manager also shows that he would have the capacity to move the club forward.
For any club moving in for the Wood manager, an approach may be difficult given the club’s current league position. Additionally, the differing trajectories between Shrewsbury and Boreham Wood may put the 40-year-old off any potential move.
Nonetheless, Garrard would be an excellent pick-up for the club.
Pete Wild – Unattached
Controversially sacked at Fleetwood Town recently, Pete Wild is on the managerial market.
Renowned for his successes with Barrow and Halifax Town, the manager would be a great pick-up for most League Two clubs.
Similar to Garrard, Wild’s sides work hard against the ball with a fantastic team spirit. Knowing how to keep a side organised, this would be pivotal in keeping Salop above the relegation zone.
While his time with Fleetwood Town was less than ideal, his squad faced numerous key injuries and suffered the pivotal loss of Ryan Graydon.
With a proven track record of picking up results against the odds, Shrewsbury Town could certainly do worse than the former Halifax Town coach.
Darrell Clarke – Unattached
Darrell Clarke has been without a job since December, and despite a particularly tough return to Bristol Rovers, he has a more than proven track record at EFL level.
In the 2023-24 campaign, the 48-year-old took charge at Cheltenham Town and earned plaudits despite the club’s eventual relegation from League One.
While his recent stints at Barnsley and Bristol Rovers haven’t been successful, Clarke is certainly a solid option for League Two level and could potentially work well with the likes of George Lloyd and John Marquis at the Croud Meadow.
Darren Ferguson – Unattached
Darren Ferguson’s spells at Peterborough United have proven that the manager is a more than capable operator at EFL level.
With the Shrewsbury Town job now open, it would be no surprise to see this link accelerate in the coming weeks.
The club’s next appointment will be pivotal in ensuring the club does not fall into non-league football, and Ferguson is a manager with vast experience in similar situations.
Adaptable and attack-minded in his approach, the Scotsman could provide just the kick that Shrewsbury need to begin winning matches in the final 19 games of the season.
Dino Maamria – Unattached
Dino Maamria has been out of work for a number of years, since parting ways with Burton Albion in 2023.
The vacancy in Shrewsbury’s dugout could offer a perfect route back into EFL management, which the 54-year-old has always been a steady figure in.
Known for stabilising clubs on fairly limited budgets, as shown in his spells at Oldham Athletic and Stevenage, the current situation at Shrewsbury could be ideal for the coach.
Considering that the next manager to take charge at Shrewsbury Town will hardly have any chance to bring their own players in, Maamria’s track record of stabilising clubs at the wrong end of the table could make the Shropshire job a match for the coach.
