Fred Davies backing Shrewsbury Town to go up

Former boss Fred Davies believes Shrewsbury Town's time has arrived — regardless of the outcome of today's automatic promotion shoot-out.

Davies was the last man to guide Shrewsbury into the third tier of English football in 1994.

Relegation followed three years later but Davies believes current Town boss Graham Turner will guide the club to promotion, either by pipping Wycombe to a top three finish this afternoon or via the play-offs.

"I would love to see Shrewsbury do it because it's been too long since they had a promotion," said Davies, Town boss between 1993 and 1997 and still living in Telford.

"And I think they will. Graham has been there, seen it and done it throughout his career.

"He was brought in to do a job after the club had gone close to promotion but missed out over a few years and he has had them up there all season.

"He has done a good job and I think they will do it this season.

"The chairman (Roland Wycherley) has put everything in place in term of the structure of the club and the ground and they are ready to go up to a higher level."

Davies urged Town's players to grasp their chance at history. "I have got great memories of the 1993-94 season and a promotion is something you don't forget."