An honest interview from manager Michael Appleton this weekend as Shrewsbury fans vent during defeat to Colchester.
Colchester came away with a 2-0 victory over Shrewsbury, a third defeat in a row in all competitions for the Salop this season, and without a goal scored in their opening three league games, with the club sitting 20th in the League Two table.
Concerns continue to grow, protests are increasing, fans continue to make their frustrations known from boos, chants and banners, some of which allegedly being confiscated.
Despite reported takeover attempts, no progress has been made, leaving fans disillusioned. They criticise the leadership for raising season ticket prices after a relegation and poor performances, including a first-round exit in the Carabao Cup to Grimsby (losing 3-1), and before that, a 4-0 defeat at Tranmere in the second league game of the season. They remain winless, with just 1 point coming in the opener, a 0-0 draw against Bromley.
😭😭😭 #colu pic.twitter.com/fzSoWwi0UN
— Elliot 🏴 (@elliot_1937) August 16, 2025
Get him out!!! 🤬🤬🤬 #Salop pic.twitter.com/FE7un6U1Pr
— AlexHamilton (@AlexHamWxm) August 16, 2025
Get him out!!! 🤬🤬🤬#Salop pic.twitter.com/z65joTjHYi
— AlexHamilton (@AlexHamWxm) August 16, 2025
A new group, The 1886, have called for change after being left in the dark on the future of their club under owner Roland Wycherley.
They called for transparency, ambition, and accountability, urging fans to voice their discontent loudly at the upcoming Colchester game through chants and banners, despite potential restrictions. This is the start of a sustained push for change.
The 1886 protest group said after the Colchester game: “Another defeat. It’s getting harder and harder to watch our club fall like this week after week. We all know the problems go much deeper than what happens on the pitch and until real change comes from the very top, nothing will improve.
“But despite the result, there were positives in the stands today. From the West Stand, it was brilliant to see the South Stand loud with chants directed at the board, and even a banner on show. That’s the energy we need to keep building.
“The message is clear – supporters are uniting, and our voices are growing stronger. We will not stop until change comes.”
Another group, called The 1996, was set up against the The 1886 protest group, and said in response to protest plans: “#progressoverpanic time for perspective
“We’ve heard from the 1886. The caps lock brigade are back – claiming to speak for all supporters, even though most of us didn’t get the memo.
“They shout “Change”, but offer no plan. They demand “Ambition”, but suggest chaos. They think banners and booing will fix a club that needs support, not slogans.
“Yes, times are tough. Yes, mistakes have been made. But dragging the club through a social media storm, pushing division from the stands, and pretending to hold the moral high ground while hiding behind an anonymous group doesn’t make you a voice of the fans – it makes you part of the noise.
“Do we need change? Maybe. Do we need to think critically, act constructively, and support the club we love? Definitely.
“So this Saturday, bring your voice – but bring balance. Back the team. Challenge ideas, not just names. Don’t let anonymous agendas claim to speak for you.
“We are Shrewsbury. We think for ourselves. We don’t need a group telling us when to clap and when to protest.
“The 1996 still here. Still supporting. Still thinking.”
Seems fans are divided over whether to protest or not against the running of the club.
Another defeat…#salop #stfc #shrewsburytown #rolandout pic.twitter.com/Hr7kx55CjF
— THE 1886 GROUP (@THE1886GROUP) August 16, 2025
After the game, Michael Appleton said he understood the frustrations of the Shrewsbury fanbase. He said, per Shropshire Star: “Listen, I’ve got no problem with that at all. I completely understand it.
“I’ve got no issues whatsoever with that. I can assure you, everyone involved with it on a day-to-day basis is spending hours at the training ground, whether that’s training and preparing, analysing, we’re all in the same boat.
“The reality is we’re not going to get out of this until everybody is unified. It’s just not going to happen.
“But we need to give the fans hope. The fans have got to try and be as patient as they possibly can, but in regards to what’s happened over the last few years, I know how difficult that is.
“Once we’ve got that little bit of hope, that might enable us to start games like we did today, but obviously get that first goal.”
🔈 #Shrewsbury Michael Appleton speaks to 📻 @BBCShropSport @studunn21 after losing 0-2 to Colchester in a very honest and frank interview!
Listen and subscribe to the whole interview on Sounds ➡️ https://t.co/0AyWmERYFu#BBCFootball | #Salop pic.twitter.com/1qR8OSAbIs
— BBC Sport Shropshire (@BBCShropSport) August 16, 2025
“There’s a little bit of baggage clearly there with players that were here last year that I need to deal with and I need to manage.
“Listen, we’ve got to man up a little bit now, and we’ve just got to make sure that as a unit we stay together.
“It’s all right saying the right things, but they’re words. We have just got to try and put it into practice and try and take the first goal in the game. Once you get the first goal in the game, you give yourself an opportunity.
“So I’m not going to say anything that you’ve not heard hundreds and thousands of times.
“It’s a difficult situation for us, but I’d like to think there are enough characters and enough leaders in there to get us through it.
“I have to ask more questions to the players, which I’ll do.
“I’m probably going to upset one or two players, which I’ll do. But the reality is, we need some kind of impact. Clearly, it can be difficult if we concede the first goal because there’s an anxiousness around the place, which I completely understand.”
Here’s the social media reaction after an honest interview from Michael Appleton as Shrewsbury fans vent during defeat to Colchester…
@nickjames_1: This is horrendous – MA has narrowed the pitch and insists on playing out from the back. We get trapped in our own half constantly. It doesn’t make sense.
@BoxingShrew: It’s so hard to remember this is only game 3 and not game 49 of last season. The mood has carried over and it clearly isn’t helping the players, even the new ones who didn’t get infected by last season. A real dark time.
@93_price: Pains me to say this but I hate absolutely anything about this club at the moment. Blind loyalty is the only thing keeping me attending. There is NOTHING to get behind and we are dropping like a stone towards oblivion. #salop
@janepittaway777: The decision RW made 27months ago was probably the worst in the clubs entire history. The timing of MM sacking so late into the transfer window is unforgivable.Should have happened at the end of last season to give MA any chance to confidently rebuild the squad. Heartbreaking 💔
@Chris_Tomo75: Not set foot in the place this season and I won’t do either, watched all games so far on tv and am yet to see any football played! Place is embarrassing at the moment, doesn’t even bother me any more! So bad it’s laughable! #rolandout
@ShrewsThreads: Better all round first half and ColU looked there for the taking. Moronic challenge for the red, killed us completely. Doesn’t excuse the continuous lack of attacking threat in this team tho. Club’s a laughing stock on and off the pitch unfortunately. Serious trouble
@bazm10892: Too many fans are acceptable of this, no fight, no urgency, happy clappers that will see the club fall into non league – it’s time for change
@TomGriffBC: The first half was genuinely quite good… but fuck me.
@ConfusedLeftie: Does Dooley want to explain why Shrewsbury have the most expensive season ticket in league two and the division above yet? What exactly do fans get in return. Those empty stands today before kickoff show exactly what fans think of the ownership now. #salop
@janepittaway777: I think its time that we had a statement from the chairman regarding how he, as owner, plans to keep the club afloat and competitive until a new owner is found
