Shrewsbury Town owner Roland Wycherley has moved to reassure fans that the long-running American takeover is nearing completion and that the club's finances are secure for the immediate future. In a direct address to supporters, the chairman of 30 years confirmed a contingency plan is in place to maintain a competitive playing budget for this season and next, even if the proposed deal collapses.

Wycherley stated the process involving the US consortium, led by Scott Davidson and including former Premier League goalkeeper Brad Friedel, has passed all necessary regulatory checks. Directors Will Dotson and Craig Graham, along with Davidson, have received formal approval from the English Football League and the Independent Football Regulator. The initial letter of intent was exchanged on March 16, but the process has taken longer than anticipated due to financial and legal scrutiny.

"We haven’t held anything back, and we continue to work with the potential new owner to get things over the line," Wycherley said. He added that the club is now in the final stages and is pushing for completion as quickly as possible, though he could not promise a specific date.

Budgets and future plans

Addressing concerns about the club's stability, Wycherley emphasised that a competitive budget has always been provided and will continue for the current campaign and the 2027-28 season if required. This assurance comes as the team, under head coach Gavin Cowan, sits 18th in League Two with 7 points from 7 games. Their recent form has been mixed, with two wins, a draw and two defeats in their last five outings, culminating in a 1-1 draw at Crewe on Saturday where George Lloyd scored the equaliser.

Wycherley urged supporters to focus their backing on the team ahead of the next fixtures, a home match against 15th-placed Colchester this weekend. "Please get behind Gavin and the players and give the process the time and space it needs to work," he said. The owner believes Davidson is the right person to take the club forward, acknowledging that football has changed and new investment is urgently needed for Shrewsbury Town.

While he expressed confidence in the buyer's background and intentions, Wycherley noted that no one can predict with certainty what a new owner will do after taking control. He stressed that the club has done all it can to satisfy itself about the consortium's ability to run the club successfully. The full squad list and current standings show the context in which this financial planning is taking place, with the team eight points behind leaders Barnet.

Wycherley concluded by saying that until new ownership arrives, the club will continue striving to do the right thing for supporters and the community. The final message for any incoming owners, he said, will be the welcome they receive from the fans themselves. Shrewsbury's next chance to build momentum is at home to Colchester on Saturday, September 26.

This story first appeared at Shropshire Star