Shrewsbury Town: Ex-Port Vale, Burton Albion and Swindon Town managers battling for vacancy | OneFootball

Shrewsbury Town are currently searching for a new permanent manager

Shrewsbury Town have shortlisted out of work trio Mark Kennedy, Dino Maamria and Andy Crosby for their managerial vacancy.

According to Alan Nixon via his Patreon account, the three coaches are all in line to potentially take over the League One side, who are rooted to the foot of the League One table.

Paul Hurst was relieved of his role with the Shrews last weekend, with Salop really struggling in the third tier of English football this season, and

chairman Roland Wycherley will be hoping whoever is appointed will be able to steer them clear of the bottom four this season.

Shrewsbury Town eye experienced managerial appointment to replace Paul Hurst

It has been reported that Shrewsbury are eyeing an experienced coach to replace Hurst, rather than an up-and-comer.

This has led them to consider one of Kennedy, Maamria and Crosby to replace 50-year-old Hurst in the dugout at the Croud Meadow.

The BBC have reported that Andy Mangan is also in consideration for the role, although that would somewhat go against the experienced options that the club are believed to be keen on appointing, whilst Gareth Ainsworth's name has also been touted by local publication the Shropshire Star.

It is believed that an appointment will be made shortly, although it remains to be seen which candidate is most likely to be picked.

Hurst lasted just nine months in the role, so the League One outfit will be hoping that his replacement can be a more long-term figure in Shropshire.

The former Ipswich Town boss oversaw a 19th-placed finish in the third tier table last season, as they narrowly avoiding relegation by just four points.

But dropping into League Two is now a serious risk for Shrewsbury, who will be looking to overturn their poor position in the table under their new manager.

Andy Crosby, Dino Maamria and Mark Kennedy battling for Shrewsbury Town job

The Shrewsbury hierarchy clearly want some League One experience within their Hurst successor, which is what all three names that are said to be in the final running for the job possess.

Maamria managed Burton Albion from 2022 until December 2023, keeping the Brewers in League One after a battle with relegation for much of 2022-23 - he has been out of work for nearly a year though as he looks for his next job.

Crosby meanwhile has only ever had one senior managerial job despite being 51 years of age, and that was with Port Vale, but his role in Staffordshire would last for less than a year, as he was sacked in February 2024, with the Valiants heading for League Two under his stewardship.

Kennedy is the one who has been in a job most recently out of the trio, departing Swindon Town of the fourth tier last month after just 16 matches in charge.

Prior to that, the former Republic of Ireland international left-sider spent a year-and-a-half with Lincoln City, before being given his marching orders in October 2023.

Big task ahead for whoever takes over at Shrewsbury Town

It’s been a difficult start to the season for Shrewsbury, and it’s no surprise that they’ve pulled the trigger on a new manager.

Bringing someone with experience in could be what’s needed to right the ship, but their situation does predicate some form of risk.

The fact they are chasing out-of-work managers also shows that they don’t have the budget to headhunt someone out of a club, nor is it the most attractive of options for working coaches.