Liam Dooley pens latest update

Dear supporters, 

As you know, I have always maintained the importance of regular communication - and with the Supporters’ Parliament meeting approaching, I wanted to share this update in advance so we can make the best use of our time together on Thursday. 

I hope this letter gives you an understanding of where we are both on and off the pitch, while continuing to build transparency and trust in every part of the club. 

My last letter in August focused on the departure of our director of football, as well as ongoing takeover discussions and the anticipation that surrounds them.  

I appreciate that many of you will be wondering where that process now stands. 

At this stage, our position remains broadly the same as in the Chairman’s September update.  

Since our last communication, multiple parties have been at the table, and agreements have been reached in principle with more than one prospective buyer.

Despite those agreements, no funds have yet been transferred by any party, and while we continue to work on this, we have not currently granted an exclusivity period.

This is not unique to Shrewsbury Town. Across the football pyramid, several clubs in similar situations have made comparable announcements, and to our knowledge, many of those transactions also remain incomplete. 

That wider pattern speaks volumes about the current landscape of football transactions. It is challenging, and while we believe the interest in the club is very real, the pace is being dictated by financial market conditions that are affecting football more broadly, not just Shrewsbury Town. 

In my last update, I also spoke about our ongoing work in recruitment and - in the short term at least - a shift away from a director of football model. 

This shift has seen us move to a more data-driven approach with structured meetings and processes to support this.  

I am pleased to say this work has accelerated. We have introduced new transfer procedures, increased our investment in data and are starting our journey into using AI-supported tools to ensure we track players accurately, proactively and efficiently. 

These processes are already shaping our planning for the January window, both in terms of strengthening the squad and making decisions on players who may move on. 

The signings of Ismael Kabia, Chuks Aneke, Brad Ihionvien and Josh Ruffels hopefully show the early positive impact of the new process. 

Recent results have reflected the progress being made, with 11 points taken from the last six league matches, a run which, had it come earlier, would have placed us firmly in the top six conversation.

While we are encouraged by the upturn, everyone here knows there is still more work to do. Michael and his staff continue to give everything, and we remain fully supportive of the direction in which the football department is moving. 

Off the field, we’ve enjoyed a number of successes that show the strength of our community and commercial operations.  

Thanks to Steve Maden’s commercial management, we have secured 45 new partners this season, which - following relegation - is outstanding.  

We also recently hosted our second breakfast networking event with over 60 attendees from local businesses.  

Growing commercial revenue in these circumstances is no small achievement, and I want to thank all of our sponsors and partners, both longstanding and new. 

Last week, we also held An Evening with Michael Appleton and Richard O’Donnell in support of Prostate Cancer UK.  

The event delivered fantastic insight, laughter, and, most importantly, significant funds for a brilliant cause. 

We will also be hosting more PSA testing events in the new year, the dates of which will be announced soon. 

Similarly, our foundation continues to do vital work in our community.  

The annual Foundation Gala Dinner returned this month and once again was a highlight of the calendar, raising almost £10,000 and providing an unforgettable evening for supporters, foundation service users, sponsors, and partners alike. 

Our off-field infrastructure improvements continue to move at pace.  

Phase two of the Smithy’s Bar £167,000 renovation - both interior and exterior - is now almost complete, delivered in partnership with the foundation. 

The FanZone has gone from strength to strength since opening in the summer, and with winter now here, we were delighted to open our new indoor FanZone ahead of the Newport game.  

It was equally pleasing to see more than 200 children enjoying our football festival ahead of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day fixture.  

Additionally, we were also proud to operate our new LED floodlights for the first time last week, another significant investment towards improving the club’s infrastructure. 

This upgrade reduces energy usage, improves efficiency, lowers costs, and most importantly, ensures we are future-proofing our stadium to meet modern broadcast and regulatory requirements up to Championship level.  

We have also implemented enhanced safety measures across the stadium. 

While we recognise that some of these changes have prompted mixed feedback, our priority will always be the safety and security of every supporter, staff member, and visitor.  

Sadly, the current climate necessitates additional vigilance, and we remain committed to maintaining the highest possible standards. 

In other news, I would like to acknowledge our supporter liaison officer, Roger Groves, who has been nominated for SLO of the Year by the Football Supporters’ Association.  

This is richly deserved recognition for his outstanding work.  

On the pitch, our home form has significantly strengthened. We have won our last three games at the Croud Meadow without conceding and are safely through to the next round of the FA Cup and our second consecutive televised tie in the competition.  

I – on behalf of the board – want to really thank all of our supporters, but I do want to give a special mention to the 452 or so who made the long eight-hour round trip to South Shields.

We hope our ticketing strategy for the next round reflects our gratitude for your commitment. 

And to see 1,600 of you make the journey to Crewe a few weeks ago was truly remarkable; thank you!

In terms of our attendances on a match day, while overall numbers have fallen, this is largely due to significantly smaller away followings in League Two compared with League One.  

Home ticket sales have remained consistent with League One levels, and we are extremely grateful for your support!  

We are pleased to announce half-season tickets are now on sale and for as little as £17.33 per game, you could secure your seat for the rest of the campaign and, in doing so, reserve a spot for any potential FA Cup third round opponent.