Michael Appleton takes over at Shrewsbury Town after sudden exit from Gareth Ainsworth
He's been appointed as head coach until the end of the season
Michael Appleton has been appointed Shrewsbury head coach until the end of the season.
Shrewsbury were rocked on Tuesday when Gareth Ainsworth left the club to take over at Gillingham, but the Sky Bet League One outfit moved quickly to bring in Appleton for the final nine matches of the campaign.
Former Blackpool, Portsmouth and Oxford boss Appleton has been out of work since he was dismissed by Charlton at the start of 2024 following only four months at the helm and will be joined at the Shrews by long-serving assistant Richard O'Donnell.
"It's been a difficult seven days, but once Gareth Ainsworth made the decision to leave, it was important we acted quickly to find the right man to guide us through the remainder of the season," Shrewsbury director of football Micky Moore said.
"Michael was my number one target and I'm thrilled that over the last 24 hours we've been able to get a deal over the line.
"I know the past few days have been difficult for supporters. Nobody likes confusion and uncertainty, but hopefully now, by making this quick appointment, we can all get behind Michael and Richard for the remaining nine games of the season."
Bottom-of-the-table Shrewsbury, who are 14 points from safety, begin Appleton's tenure at Birmingham on Saturday.