Comment: Sam Ricketts nets a home win with slick Q&A display

The slick Town boss had around 100 Salop supporters hanging from his every word as he – alongside trusted lieutenants Danny Coyne and Eric Ramsay – gave insights into their ambitious targets.

It felt like the Shrewsbury fans that attended the event wanted to be grabbed by the modern, charismatic Ricketts. They wanted to be captivated by how he sees his Meadow tenure.

A similar manager Q&A was, by all accounts, less memorable in the summer – but this one was anything but forgettable.

Supporters remarked on leaving the Meadow that they had confidence in the new man at the helm.

Success is not achieved in the media or at similar fan events, but you can certainly win over fans and gain admirers in those departments.

Ricketts will be judged on his results but there is no doubt Shrewsbury have appointed an ambitious, modern, forward-thinking manager who has his sights set on a big future in the game.

That much seems to be clear each time the Welshman speaks in the press. Then, on Thursday night in the Sovereign Lounge, when asked about what he thinks the current squad can achieve, he replied impressively about a hatred for settling for mediocrity.

Playing to be in mid-table is something Ricketts has never done and you feel is not something he has come here to do. It’s not in his make-up or DNA. He wants to be leading Shrewsbury on a charge to the top.

The club have been there before, very recently, and now it’s his challenge to show why it wasn’t a fluke or a one-off.

Now, it is likely his predecessor John Askey wanted similar, but it is already quite obvious that Ricketts has a firmer vision and philosophy in place. More of an idea about how he sees things succeeding.

Ricketts has spoken regularly about a seamless transition with Coyne and Ramsay.

It seems, despite managing in League One for the first time, he has settled in with impeccable simplicity. Players have commented how they felt ‘nothing has changed’ from that mightily impressive interim period under Town’s now first-team coaches.

The new boss has banged the drum about clarity. Detail to players that will be new to them but, above all, clarity in their jobs.

Over time Ricketts’ changes will become more clear. He will aim to take the squad to the next level in fitness and in the way they pressure opposition, as well as his aims to add different formations to Town’s repertoire.

Ricketts used width at Wrexham and it will be interesting to see how he fits the influential Shaun Whalley back in. But he knows Shrewsbury have talent in the midfield and, for now, he will look to take advantage of that.

The boss told fans on Thursday evening how hard work is the quintessential quality of a Ricketts player. He talked about his time at the top, internationally and domestically, and how it stemmed from the hard yards, hours training to get the most out of his ability.

He made his debut for Wales at left-back, less than a year after leaving Town’s non-league neighbours Telford United.

But he was only able to play left-back because his grandad has forced him to practice with his left foot while growing up.

Ricketts’ anecdotes and soundbites engrossed the fans and, while he was unable to give them the ‘Dave Edwards is returning’ line they craved, the admiration for this young and inspirational manager was palpable.