Liam Dooley Open Letter | CEO provides update ahead of the new season.

I want to begin this open letter by thanking you for your patience.

As many of you will know, this update is later than I had hoped. There is a reason for that, and I want to address it from the outset.

The delay is because we are still in the process of the Owners' and Directors' Tests with both the EFL and the Independent Football Regulator as part of a potential takeover.

I’m pleased to say the process continues to move forward.

I know many supporters are eager for more information and have questioned why more hasn’t been shared publicly.

The simple answer is that we can only communicate developments as they happen and when we are legally permitted to do so under the terms of the confidentiality agreements in place.

I fully appreciate this lack of detail is frustrating.

But please be assured that this has never been about withholding information.

It has been about protecting a process and ensuring we do not do anything that could jeopardise its conclusion.

It is important to stress that until any takeover is completed, nothing changes in the day-to-day running of the football club.

The Chairman remains responsible for the club's financial obligations and recruitment, just as he has been for the past 30 years.

That will remain the case until any potential takeover is concluded.

Away from the takeover, it has been an extremely productive summer across every area of the football club.

Manager Gavin Cowan and head of recruitment Tom Ware have worked tirelessly to strengthen the squad, with the aim of bringing new signings in as early as possible to give the group the best possible preparation for the season ahead.

There is a genuine sense of unity, purpose and quiet confidence around the football club. And we are excited to see those foundations built upon once the competitive campaign gets underway.

This year is, of course, particularly significant as we celebrate the club's 140th anniversary.

The response to our anniversary home shirt has been fantastic, with record-breaking sales, while the away and third kits have also proven extremely popular.

Our Open Day at the Croud Meadow was another great success and it was fantastic to see so many supporters enjoying the day.

The event also gave us the opportunity to unveil new graphics installed in the apexes of the stands.

These designs were chosen by supporters through a public vote, and we have now launched another poll to decide which club legends will be honoured with a permanent banner at the front of the stadium

This alongside our new famous shirt block and turnstile stands around the ground.

One of my favourite parts of the day was the pop-up museum organised by our SLO Roger Groves.

It was a wonderful reminder of our proud history and a fitting addition to the anniversary celebrations.

I'd also like to thank everyone who took part in our supporter consultations and online engagement sessions.

Your ideas, feedback and enthusiasm have played a significant role in shaping our anniversary plans, and we are incredibly grateful to both the Super Blues and the Official Supporters Club for their generous support in helping bring many of those ideas to life. For more information on the Super Blues visit, https://shrewssuperblues.com/ and for the OSC visit https://www.shrewsburytownosc.org/

While much of that work has been visible, significant progress has also been made behind the scenes.

Further improvements have been completed at both the Croud Meadow and our training ground as we continue to look for the marginal gains that can make a difference, both on and off the pitch.

I'd also like to recognise the outstanding work of our ground staff working tirelessly throughout the summer in sweltering conditions with precious little rain.

They have once again delivered excellent pitch renovations at both the stadium and training ground ahead of the new season, while, at Gavin's request, supporters will also notice a significantly wider playing surface at the Croud Meadow compared with last season

On the pitch our academy continues to breed success. We hope supporters will continue to enjoy watching local talent such as Isaac England and Will Gray and others come through and represent the club.

Another significant milestone this summer has been the launch of our new website, developed in partnership with local company Shoothill.

The site integrates our ticketing & retail partners, along with our foundation activities into one system.

This gives us a total 360-degree picture of our supporters to help improve our fan experience and engagement, while enabling us to target marketing and drive revenue for years to come.

Our foundation continues to go from strength to strength in every area, with a particular highlight recently being the work of our employability team.

Since March the STFC Foundation’s employability team has secured 94 jobs for 18-24 year olds across the whole of Shropshire!

Their achievements are outstanding and just one facet of the amazing work our Foundation do for our community every day.

Anyone wishing to support our foundation, feel free to check out our upcoming STFC Golf day with the players, with a player in every 4-ball, with our final few tee off slots remaining. More info can be found on the graphic in this story.

Off the pitch, your support has continued to be outstanding.

Season ticket sales are currently ahead of this stage last year.

If you haven't yet secured yours, there is still time, and we would love to see as many supporters as possible join us throughout what promises to be an exciting season.

I can also confirm that our matchday shuttle bus service from Shrewsbury town centre to the Croud Meadow will continue this season.

Although our previous contract with Arriva has come to an end, we recognise how important this service is to supporters and were determined to ensure it remained in place.

The future of services covering Telford, Ludlow, Whitchurch and other areas is currently being reviewed, taking into account demand and operating costs.

As always, any decisions we make will seek to balance the needs of our supporters with the long-term commercial interests of the football club.

Many of you will also be aware that Shropshire Council has taken the decision to withdraw the Meole Brace Park and Ride service from November due to low passenger numbers.

This is not something the football club had anticipated, and we recognise the importance of convenient transport options for our supporters.

We are therefore exploring alternative solutions and will provide a further update as soon as we are in a position to do so.

I want to finish by saying this.

There is a genuine feeling that something positive is building at Shrewsbury Town.

The unity within the football department, the progress being made behind the scenes, the investment in our facilities, the excitement surrounding our 140th anniversary and, above all, the continued backing of our supporters give me real confidence about the future.

Every day I see staff across every department working tirelessly to move this football club forward. Their commitment, professionalism and passion deserve enormous credit, and I firmly believe we are moving in the right direction.

On behalf of the Board and everyone at Shrewsbury Town, thank you for your continued support. Here’s to what we believe will be a successful season.

Liam Dooley

Chief Executive Officer

Shrewsbury Town Football Club