51-year-old who last managed QPR emerges as lead contender for vacant EFL job
11/11/2024 09:32 AM
QPR had Gareth Ainsworth in charge for eight months in 2023 and now, he is a lead contender for the Shrewsbury Town job, as per the Shropshire Star.
QPR and Wycombe Wanderers’ former boss Ainsworth is just one of a few names to have been linked with the vacant post as Shrewsbury Town manager.
The League One side are on the hunt for a new lead man in the dugout. It comes after they parted ways with Paul Hurst amid a dismal start to the 2024/25 campaign.
Ainsworth has been cited as a contender for the Salop job alongside the likes of Dino Maamaria and Andy Mangan. Reports emerged over the weekend stating former Port Vale boss Andy Crosby and ex-Swindon Town manager Mark Kennedy are also among those on the shortlist.
Now though, it seems Shrewsbury Town are zeroing in on their top target.
The Shropshire Star reports that the earlier mentioned Ainsworth has emerged in pole position to land the job. It would mark his first return to the dugout since QPR parted ways with him in October 2023.
A deal has not been agreed yet but the 51-year-old now appears to be the leading contender for the job, and he would be interested in bringing long-term assistant Richard Dobson with him to New Meadow with him.
Back to League One?
League One is a division Ainsworth is more than familiar with from his time at Wycombe Wanderers.
Over nearly 10 years at the helm, he led them from League Two all the way up to the Championship. It was his work there that earned a chance with QPR, where Ainsworth spent much of his playing career.
However, after keeping the R’s up, a poor start to the 2023/24 season saw him relieved of his duties.
Ainsworth has been out of the game for over a year now but with a comeback potentially on the cards with Shrewsbury Town, he’ll be hoping to guide them to safety in a league he has come to know very well over his managerial career to date.
Another relegation firefight
After leading to QPR to survival in 2023, Ainsworth looks as though he’ll be parachuted in for another fight against the drop if he ends up taking the reins at Shrewsbury Town.
They have just eight points from 15 games this season, winning two and drawing two games. Salop are already six points away from safety, so a big task awaits Ainsworth or whoever takes charge of the club.
They’re rooted to the bottom of the League One table after being beaten by fellow strugglers Burton Albion at the weekend and will be hoping their next boss can inspire a drastic turnaround.
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