Shrewsbury Town takeover by American consortium approved by EFL

Shrewsbury Town's long-running takeover saga is set to end after an American consortium was granted approval to buy the club.

The League Two club received written confirmation from the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) and the English Football League (EFL) on Monday confirming the as-yet-unidentified group's takeover had been approved.

The club said the new owner and principal investors will be announced "when we are able to do so".

"Now the regulatory processes have been successfully completed and approved, we move towards finalising the remaining documentation and concluding the takeover process as soon as possible," said a club statement. , external

"The chairman remains fully committed to finalising the transaction and ensuring a smooth takeover process."

Salop chairman Roland Wycherley put the club up for sale in 2024, but the collapse of potential takeovers had led frustrated supporter groups to send him an open letter demanding answers.

"Our detailed response to the open letter which we received on Sunday, 6 September, will be made after due consideration," the Shrewsbury statement added.

"We thank all of our supporters for their patience, and we will update you as soon as we are able to do so."

Though news of the takeover approval came just 24 hours after the open letter was sent, supporters' frustration had been brewing for some time following several failed attempts to purchase the Shropshire club.

Negotiations with an American buyer collapsed in March 2025, and six months later a second bid from a different party also fell through.

The club continued to report interest, but there had been no substantial news until June this year, when takeover terms were reported to have been agreed with an American consortium.

Once completed, the sale will bring an end to Wycherley's 30-year tenure as owner.

Town suffered relegation from League One in 2024-25 and needed a late-season revival under new boss Gavin Cowan to avoid dropping into the National League last term.

Analysis - BBC Radio Shropshire sports editor Nick Southall

This is as close as Shrewsbury has come to completing a takeover.

A different American businessman pulled out of the running a year and a half ago, before the Owners and Directors test.

So, this is a major milestone for the prospective owners to reach, and we could soon see a change which will bring chairman Roland Wycherley's 30-year spell at the top to an end.

Wycherley saved the club from bankruptcy in the 1990s and led the move to a brand-new stadium, leaving the iconic Gay Meadow.

There's no doubt football is a different beast now, and the prospect of new investment will come as a much-needed tonic, with Shrewsbury missing out on a number of key targets during the summer transfer window.

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