Shrewsbury Town boss Steve Cotterill back in hospital with pneumonia

The Town manager spent more than a month in hospital after catching coronavirus earlier this year, and had only returned home two weeks ago.

However the club have now confirmed that the 56-year-old has returned to hospital to treat pneumonia brought on from the disease.

Cotterill's assistant and stand-in Town boss Aaron Wilbraham said in today's press conference: "It's a bit of a negative update really.

"The manager has been has been admitted back into hospital yesterday, he's been bad since the middle of last week.

"Speaking to him I could tell with his breathing and coughing he was quite bad, he was in A&E in the morning and on the ward in Bristol after.

"It's obviously caused by the Covid-19, but it's such bad news. He's the type of bloke to not miss a day's work, for him to be off ill all this time, feel like he's getting back in having time at home with his wife to then get this other setback.

"But I know how strong and tough he is, he'll deal with it no problem. It's just another case of antibiotics, drips and another week in hospital.

"I just feel really gutted for him. I know from all my time with him he never takes a day off, when he came to Shrewsbury he never went home to Bristol, he was in on the Sundays, Wednesday, when the boys were away, trying to improve.

"Hearing that yesterday was a bit of a blow but it's something that he will deal with. I've just told all the boys and we're all supporting him and wishing him back here.

"He'll be fighting it no problem and fighting to get through it, it's just so frustrating for him to end up back in hospital."

“It’s another setback, it’s nothing life-threatening or anything like that, but it’s more frustration for the manager to have to go back into hospital.

“I was on the phone to him yesterday and you could hear the staff in the background, because he’s such a great guy, they are like ‘hiya Steve’ and happy to see him, but he’s not really happy to see them. He doesn’t want to be there. He wants to be back here with the boys. It was such a big hurdle to get home, to spend a bit of time there, to feel like he was getting there.

“But he knows his own body, he’s been a footballer, dealt with cruciates, he knows when his body is not right. It’s not the case of him just sneezing, for the gaffer to go in hospital it must’ve been something wrong and the fact he had pneumonia proves he was right to get checked out, I’m glad he did. At least they’ve spotted it and have got the antibiotic drip on him, they say it takes 48 hours to go through. I’m just really gutted for him.”

Town said in a club statement: "Shrewsbury Town Football Club is disappointed to report Steve Cotterill has been re-admitted to the hospital.

"Following extensive treatment for Covid-19, Steve returned home from the hospital on February 16th.

"However, Town's manager has returned to the hospital over the weekend as he is suffering from Covid-pneumonia.

"The club wishes Steve all the best in his recovery and will not be making any further comments at this time."

The Town boss contracted Covid-19 during a widespread outbreak at the club in January and ended up spending 33 days in hospital.

He was treated at Bristol Royal Infirmary Hospital, where he spent a couple of nights in intensive care shortly after being admitted.

Assistant manager Aaron Wilbraham has been leading the team in Cotterill's absence, but the Town boss has stayed heavily involved and delivered pre-match and half-time team talks on the phone.

Supporters have rallied behind the manager and raised money to create a banner in his honour at the Montgomery Waters Meadow.

Salop have enjoyed far better results since the former Bristol City manager took over in November following the sacking of Sam Ricketts.

However they lost 2-1 to Cotterill's former rivals Bristol Rovers on Saturday.