Shrewsbury's relegation back to League Two confirmed

Shrewsbury Town have had three head coaches this season (from left): Paul Hurst, Gareth Ainsworth and Michael Appleton

Shrewsbury Town's long expected relegation back to League Two has finally been confirmed - with four games still to play.

The Shropshire club, who have spent the past 10 years in League One, knew they had to win all their four remaining League One matches to stand any chance of staying up.

But, before they had the chance kick off in their Good Friday home match against Wigan Athletic, Burton Albion's point from their lunchtime game at Exeter was enough to ensure mathematical certainty - after a late goal by the hosts was disallowed.

As far as next season is concerned, while the club remain up for sale, being pursued by several potential investors, current head coach Michael Appleton this week had a meeting with Town officials about his own future.

"Talks have been really positive," Appleton told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"I'm enjoying my time here and I'm enjoying the interactions I've had with all the staff and the players. I'm hoping that an agreement will happen over time.

"We seem to have a good response from the fans, which is probably the most important thing, and I'm very encouraged by the talks we've had."

Appleton was appointed for an initial nine games until the end of the campaign following Gareth Ainsworth's shock exit to join Gillingham after just four months in charge.

What goes up. . . must come down

So, 10 years on after coming up from League Two under manager Micky Mellon, Shrewsbury head back there under director of football Micky Moore.

In the end, hopes of an 11th straight season in League One for English football's longest occupants of the third tier proved too much.

Shrewsbury have spent the past decade competing on a pretty unlevel playing field on the financial front, doing well to survive each season, except for the remarkable 2017-18 campaign when they punched well above their weight, finished third and made the play-off final under Paul Hurst, who then immediately left for Ipswich..

They began this season with Hurst back in charge - but long-serving chairman Roland Wycherley's plan to hand over the club to new owners at the end of the season after 30 years at the helm quickly came adrift.

Salop got off to a bad start, had an all too brief mini revival after Hurst was sacked in November and new boss Ainsworth donned his cowboy boots to gallop into town.

Ainsworth's unique brand of motivational skills engineered shock home wins over both League One's two transatlantic-owned giants, Birmingham City and Wrexham.

But star turn Tom Bloxham was sold in the mid-season window, all the incoming January transfers looked like they were already planning ahead for the bottom tier and, just when the going get rough and League Two was in sight, Ainsworth got going too as he swapped metaphors to jump off the sinking ship and head for Kent.

Shrewsbury are where they should be as far as this season is concerned.

Only one club Wigan Athletic (35) have scored fewer than Town's 37 goals in 42 games. And only Crawley (81) and Peterborough (72) have leaked more than their 71 goals.

Right now, other than the prospect of new owners following a failed takeover and the hope of Appleton stopping on, all the Town fans have to look forward to is the prospect of meeting Ainsworth again next season when they play Gillingham.