Popular Bristol City manager set to leave League One club

Shrewsbury Town are reportedly set to part ways with first-team manager Steve Cotterill, according to speculation.

Football Insider claims that the Shrews are 'set to sack' Cotterill according to their sources,. Ollie Westbury, the dedicated football journalist for the ShropshireStar however believes that is is a ‘mutual consent’ agreement.

Shrewsbury have recently undergone some major changes to their football operation, with Micky Moore recently appointed as their director of football amongst other appointments. Duncan Montgomery was appointed director of finance, Peter Brophy as chief operating officer and Jamie Edwards as chief development officer. Cotterill claimed that he found out about the appointments through the clubs official media channels, at the same time as supporters. He was unsure what the change to the football operations would mean in an interview with the Shropshire Star in May.

The 58-year-old had been included in odds at numerous vacancies, Bristol City favourite in frame for rival job including Severnside rivals Cardiff City and Swansea City, who are both on the hunt for a new manager. The Bluebirds parted company with Sabri Lamouchi more than a fortnight ago, whilst a compensation issue is the hold-up for Russell Martin's impending move to recently relegated Southampton.

Cotterill still has a property in Bristol, and holds an affinity to the area and spoke highly of the club to BristolWorld, where he summarised his time as Bristol City manager. He took over the club when they were situated lowly in League One, and after a season of consolidation, he assembled a team that won an impressive League and EFL trophy double. The Robins scored 98 goals that year, and conceded just 38, giving them the best defensive record in the division.

In his two-and-a-half-year spell at Ashton Gate, he oversaw 116 matches, with 53 wins, 28 defeats and 35 draws. He was let go by City and replaced by Lee Johnson in February 2016, and later managed Birmingham City for a six-month spell. At Shrewsbury, he has won managed 143 games, winning 48, losing 64 and drawing 31. Shrewsbury finished 12th in League One last season, and had Taylor Moore on their books, who was tipped to return there, as well as George Nurse.