Brad Friedel: Shrewsbury 'hit all the boxes' for US-backed owners
New Shrewsbury Town sporting director Brad Friedel says the club is the perfect project for the US-backed consortium after completing their takeover.
Brad Friedel has said Shrewsbury Town 'hit all the boxes' for the club's new US-backed owners after their takeover was completed on Monday. The consortium Biscayne ST LLC, led by Scott Davidson and including Friedel, bought 87.4% of the shares, ending Roland Wycherley's long tenure as owner. Friedel, the former Blackburn and USA goalkeeper, becomes the club's new sporting director.
In an exclusive interview with BBC Radio Shropshire, Friedel explained that he and Davidson met through friends in Miami and bonded over football. After deciding to invest in the UK market, they conducted a Europe-wide search that took in Turkey, Poland, Portugal and Holland before settling on the League Two club. Friedel said the appeal of a one-town club and the chance to further integrate Shrewsbury into the community were key factors.
Friedel dismissed any suggestion that he is lowering his ambitions by taking a role in the fourth tier. He pointed to his time as head coach of the US men's under-19 team as one of his most enjoyable post-playing jobs and said he views the Shrewsbury role as another exciting project. He will move to the area and work day-to-day alongside manager Gavin Cowan, stressing that the approach will be collaborative rather than dictatorial.
Recruitment is a priority, with Friedel revealing that a department is already in place. He described himself as data-driven but insisted that data would only speed up the process, not replace traditional scouting. The new owners plan to cast a wider net globally, targeting regions Shrewsbury have not previously explored. On the pitch, Friedel set a goal of becoming promotion contenders, whether this season or next, while emphasising a step-by-step approach focused first on stability and structure.
The takeover marks a new era for Shrewsbury, who finished 10 points clear of relegation in League Two last season after appointing Cowan in January. The club had spent 10 seasons in League One before dropping down in 2025 and last played in the second tier in 1989. Friedel said everything is possible but refused to look too far ahead, adding that the immediate aim is to provide the resources for the first team, staff and academy to succeed.
Image: Getty Images / BBC Sport
