Shrewsbury still in "multiple" takeover talks

Roland Wycherley has been owner of Shrewsbury Town for nearly 30 years

Shrewsbury Town have been in takeover talks with "multiple parties" over the past three months with agreements reached "in principle" with more than one prospective buyer, says chief executive Liam Dooley.

Despite that, Dooley added the League Two club had not received money from any party and therefore had not entered into an exclusivity period with any potential purchaser.

Dooley revealed in August that Town were in "advanced talks" with a potential buyer five months after a previous deal with an American multi-millionaire collapsed.

At the time, Dooley said Shrewsbury were hoping to enter a period of exclusivity with that buyer "in the coming days and weeks".

But in September, owner and chairman Roland Wycherley said that deal too had collapsed with the club still talking to other interested buyers.

In a statement, Dooley said he believed interest in buying the club was "very real" but called the current financial landscape "challenging" with "the pace being dictated by financial market conditions that are affecting football more broadly, not just Shrewsbury Town".

AI use in transfers and 'encouragement' over recent form

Dooley also said the club had moved towards a more data-driven approach to transfers since scrapping the director of football role following Micky Moore's departure in August.

Part of that has been the adoption of artificial intelligence to help monitor the playing squad and shape transfer strategies.

"We have introduced new transfer procedures, increased our investment in data and are starting our journey into using AI-supported tools to ensure we track players accurately, proactively and efficiently," Dooley said.

"These processes are already shaping our planning for the January window, both in terms of strengthening the squad and making decisions on players who may move on.

"The signings of Ismael Kabia, Chuks Aneke, Brad Ihionvien and Josh Ruffels hopefully show the early positive impact of the new process."

Salop have recovered from a slow start to the League Two season following relegation last term, with only one defeat in their past six league games.

Saturday's vital win over bottom side Newport County lifted Michael Appleton's team two points clear of the relegation zone before this weekend's trip to Fleetwood Town.

Dooley said the board are "encouraged" by the upturn but added "everyone here knows there is still more work to do".

"Michael and his staff continue to give everything, and we remain fully supportive of the direction in which the football department is moving," Dooley said.