Chief Matt praises Micky’s mettle

RESULTS may not have gone Shrewsbury’s way so far this season, but manager Micky Mellon continues to do a fine job at Greenhous Meadow.

That’s according to Shrews’ chief executive Matt Williams, an Oldhamer who will return on Saturday in the hope of seeing his team take three three points from Athletic.

Williams joined the Shrews 15 months ago from Blackpool, roughly around the same time Mellon took over from former boss Michael Jackson.

In his first full season, Mellon guided Shrewsbury to a dream promotion, though this year the team isn’t finding things as straightforward.

They have lost both their home league games and drawn at Bradford, though they won at Blackburn in the Capital One Cup first round.

Williams said: “I knew a lot about Micky Mellon before he joined the club because he was at Fleetwood for some time. I knew he could turn things around at Shrewsbury. He’s building this club back up to where it belongs, and taking it forward both on and off he field. He really is doing a fantastic job.”

Williams – who grew up in Fitton Hill and played cricket for Shaw until as recently as 2012 – is hoping Mellon’s men will finally gain their first maximum points haul on Saturday, while at the same time keeping up his own super record against his beloved Athletic.

“During my 12 years at Blackpool we played against Latics 13 times, including in the play-offs,” added Williams, who worked voluntarily at SportsDirect.com Park for a while under the guidance of former

commercial manager Sean Jarvis.

“We only lost once, and that was when Luke Beckett scored a hat-trick as Latics won 3-1. We’re due a win.”