Sean McAllister has been appointed Town's new lead professional development phase coach, with the former Salop midfielder now in charge of managing the under-18s on our scholarship programme.
Sean made 46 appearances for Town between 2010 and 2012 and has since returned to the area following his retirement from professional football.
He joined the academy as a coach five years ago before becoming a coach at the Shrewsbury Town FC Foundation a year later.
After four successful years in that role, Sean has stepped up to coach our 16,17 and 18-year-old scholars.
On his new role:
“I’m really looking forward to it. As you know, I've been a part of this club in one shape or form for the last five years I think now, starting in the academy and then moving over to the foundation for the last four years.
“Now I’m back at the academy which I think is a role that’s perfect for me.
“I’m really looking forward to working with the players most importantly. Obviously, David (Longwell) moved on recently, but he’s left the academy in a brilliant place that Charlie (Musselwhite) continues to lead. I think it’s a great time to be a part of it. There’s a lot of talent coming through, and some are already knocking on the door but hopefully, I can help get the others a little closer.”
His first impressions of the squad and the environment:
“A few I've already worked with. A few were under-15s when I was with the under-16s a few years ago so I knew a few faces which is good.
“I've got to know the other lads and they're all great. They seem a real honest bunch of lads which gives us something to work with and I'd like to think I'll be able to pass on some of my knowledge to them and hopefully get them over to the first team more often!”
On what can be expected from the under-18s this season:
“The whole idea of what we try to do is to implement what the first team does. There is no point in us doing something completely different because we want our players to be able to step up to the first team and have an idea of what they need to do.
“Hopefully what fans see on a Saturday afternoon is what we’ll put into effect on a Saturday morning at the academy.
“There have been players knocking on the door who have been working with the first team already. Some of them will need minutes with us and are still able to play with us in the 18s, so if fans come down and watch they will see players who are in and around the first team.”
