In the unlikely event of an American consortium asking my advice on buying an EFL club, I would say go for a ‘stand alone’ club, on that has no rivals in its vicinity. Shrewsbury Town meets that criterion, being the only EFL club in Shropshire or Salop.
Salop is a very rural county by English standards. The county town is Shrewsbury. To its east is the ‘new town’ of Telford
which has its own non-league club and also quite a big Wolves following. Salop has quite a high retired population who
may have historic allegiances elsewhere.
So it’s a challenge.
It reminds me in many ways of Shropshire pop group T’ Pau of ‘China in
my Hands’ fame. I still have their
vinyls, but friends dismiss them as one hit wonders. T’ Pau may just have a
nostalgic following, but the Shrews can be revived.
Former U.S. and Premier League goalkeeper Brad Friedel is
part of an American group that is trying to buy English Football League
strugglers Shrewsbury Town. (I still
have a bit of an issue with him for scoring against my club Charlton at The Valley).
Earlier this week, the club, who are currently second from
bottom of League Two, announced that the Independent Football Regulator has
approved the consortium’s planned takeover, without identifying who was
involved.
But the suspense was ended on Friday, when a new club
statement confirmed that the group is being led by Miami-based businessman
Scott Davidson, with Friedel lined up to become a director.
Davidson has a background in financial services and property
but, in 2021, he bought a stake in Edinburgh-based amateur team Spartans. Two
years later, they were promoted to the Scottish Professional Football League
for the first time in their history.
Since then, they have challenged for promotion every season,
finishing second in League Two, Scottish football’s fourth tier, last season.
During that time, Spartans have improved their stadium and invested in their
academy.
Confirmation of the names behind the proposed takeover
should excite Shrewsbury Town fans, who have not had much to cheer in recent
seasons, having seen their side finish bottom of League One in 2024, then 19th
in League Two last season.
This slump in fortunes has led to heavy criticism of the
club’s current owner, local businessman Roland Wycherley, who rescued the club
from bankruptcy in 1996 and then moved them from their quaint but cramped home
on the banks of the River Severn, Gay Meadow, to the all-seater New Meadow in
2007.
That appeared to set the club up for a rise up the pyramid
but a third-placed finish in League One in 2018 was Shrewsbury’s high-water
mark under Wycherley, who has actively been trying to sell the club for five
years.
During that time, he has seen several deals collapse at the
last hurdle, so the 85-year-old will know these things are not done until all
contracts are signed. But the fact that he and Davidson have been willing to
reveal this much information about the proposed takeover suggests both parties
are confident it will proceed.
Shrewsbury beat Northampton 1-0 yesterday.
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