Ainsworth leaves Shrewsbury to become Gills boss

Gareth Ainsworth has won five of his 22 games in charge at Shrewsbury Town

Gillingham have appointed Shrewsbury Town head coach Gareth Ainsworth as their new manager to replace John Coleman.

Gills confirmed 62-year-old Coleman had left the club on Tuesday afternoon and shortly after announced Ainsworth's appointment.

Former Wycombe Wanderers boss Ainsworth, who has signed a contract until 2027, had been in charge at Shrewsbury since November, taking over a side that was bottom of League One.

Having won five and lost 12 of his 22 games in charge, the 51-year-old now moves down a division, along with assistant Richard Dobson, with Shrewsbury still bottom and 14 points from safety with nine matches to play.

John Coleman joined Gillingham in January on a deal until the end of the season

Ainsworth will be in the dugout for the Gills' League Two fixture against Harrogate Town on Saturday.

Gillingham,19th in League Two, only brought in Coleman in January on a deal until the end of the season - but the long-serving former Accrington Stanley boss managed just two wins in his 14 games at the helm.

Ainsworth becomes the Gills' fifth different manager in the past 18 months after Neil Harris, Stephen Clemence, Mark Bonner and Coleman.

Shrewsbury say they are already in discussions with candidates for their new head coach and hope to have someone in place when they face league leaders Birmingham City on Saturday - an irony as Ainsworth's first game in charge was the 3-2 win over Blues in November.

'He made it clear he wanted to leave'

Ainsworth's decision to leave Shrewsbury came to the club's "shock and dismay" chairman Roland Wycherley said in an open letter to supporters.

Wycherley confirmed a termination fee had been agreed for Ainsworth and Dobson and that the club had done "everything in its power to persuade Gareth to stay".

"I'm writing this open letter because I understand there is a lot of anger, worry and concern among supporters," Wycherley said.

"As you will be aware from media reports – and much to our shock and dismay – Gareth Ainsworth has informed us he wishes to leave the club after receiving an offer from a League Two club."

Wycherley said Ainsworth had been offered a two-year contract extension in the past few weeks.

"Gareth seemed pleased we made that offer and everyone was looking forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship," he said.

The club attempted to keep Ainsworth until the end of the season but the ex-Wycombe boss "made it clear he wanted to leave immediately, despite acknowledging the position the club are in at this moment in time", Wycherley added.

'Caught Shrewsbury by surprise' - analysis

BBC Radio Shropshire's Shrewsbury Town commentator Nick Southall

It's fair to say this news has well and truly caught the club by surprise.

Gareth Ainsworth had talked about wanting to build something special at Shrewsbury over a long period of time, as he did at Wycombe.

The constant message was he loved Shrewsbury and the short-term pain was worth it for the long-term gain.

BBC Radio Shropshire understands Shrewsbury fought tooth and nail to keep Ainsworth after being approached by Gillingham, to the extent he was offered a two-year extension no matter what league they are in.

They also tried to keep Ainsworth until the end of the season, but the release clause was triggered and now the decision has been made.