Shrewsbury’s hunt for a manager nearly over

(Picture: Action Images)

League One Shrewsbury have narrowed a shortlist of potential manager’s down to “four or five” as they hunt for Micky Mellon’s replacement.

The Shrews currently sit 23rd in the third tier and parted company with Mellon at the beginning of the month, having won just two of their opening 11 games.

And after much speculation and many rumours, Shrewsbury’s chief executive Brian Caldwell said the club hope to appoint a new manager before Saturday’s visit of Northampton.

He told Radio Shropshire: “We’re keen to appoint as soon as possible. It’s been hard work. We could have someone in place by the weekend.

“We’re probably at four or five just now. It’s been slower than we hoped it to be but we’re a lot closer than we were last Thursday.

“We’re conscious that potentials we maybe want to talk to are at clubs just now, so you don’t want to interfere with their daily routine and affect your relationship with the club too.”

Numerous names have been linked with the vacant position at New Meadow, including Morecambe boss Jim Bentley, former Bristol City manager Steve Cotterill and Kenny Jackett, who is local to the area, but they have all ruled themselves out of the running.

The latest favourite to succeed Mellon is former Inverness manager John Hughes, who was linked to the job in the Scottish media on Sunday, but those rumours are thought to be false.

Caretaker manager Danny Coyne, who is goalkeeper coach at the club, has also said he isn’t interested in the full-time job, but will oversee Tuesday’s tough looking home game against in-form Sheffield United.