Shrewsbury Town chief confident of big pop concert with big name

Shrewsbury Town chief executive Matt Williams has been in negotiations since last July with promoters about attracting a big-name artist at the stadium.

The club staged a hugely successful show featuring "The Rocket Man" four years ago and the superstar played before a 16,000 sell-out crowd at Walsall FC's Banks's Stadium on June 13.

Now Town are closing in on announcing another big name to appear at the Oteley Road ground. An 18,000 sell-out crowd could make as much as £100,000 profit for the club.

Mr Williams was instrumental in getting Rod Stewart to Blackpool FC last year in a concert that made a similar amount for the Lancashire club.

And he has acted in response to being regularly asked if Shrewsbury can attract a big-name music act to their stadium.

"It's a question I get asked every day – when's Elton John coming back or when are we having a concert?" said Mr Williams. "It's something we're well on the way with and we're trying to get it over the line.

"I'm still in talks but I'm more optimistic than I was six weeks ago.

"I'm 85 per cent certain of getting one. We've gone to a promoter that I worked with before at Blackpool with dates for May, June and July next year, plus seating plans.

"They're in conversations with a couple of management companies and they're confident of getting someone.

"We've sent stadium plans, seating plans and car park plans and dates.

"We've gone through the logistics and once we get the dates agreed, we'll go through ticket prices and formalise contracts. It's been something I've been dealing with since last July."

A big name will be guaranteed, assured Mr Williams. "I don't want to say we've got a name because we might not get him," he said. "But it's equally as high-profile as Elton John.

"The choice of artist is down to the promoter – they've put a name to us that fits the bill and if that comes off we'll have a 17,000 or 18,000 sell-out."

If Town pull it off Mr Williams is confident the stadium will be considered for future gigs.

"If we can deliver something like we did for Elton John then I'm confident the promoter I'm speaking to will utilise us more often than perhaps the Elton John people did," he said.

But Mr Williams warned Town face plenty of competition to stage the gig.

"I'd love to make it a weekend of events but there are 91 other Football League or Premier League clubs and 18 county cricket grounds, plus arenas up and down the country," he said.

Cash raised from the concert will go into manager Micky Mellon's playing budget. "We want to utilise the stadium and give the manager more money to spend and if we can do that, then happy days," he said.

Mr Williams is also planning to attract tribute bands to the Greenhous Meadow – with a Take That act top of the agenda. "I've set our commercial department the task of finding me a Take That tribute, which would tie in with a dinner," he said.