Shrewsbury Town: Gareth Ainsworth reveals the 'big reason' he joined the League One side
Gareth Ainsworth has admitted potential investment played a significant part in his decision to join Shrewsbury Town.
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The Salop head coach has been in situ for almost three months after being appointed back in November.
At the time of his arrival it was considered a coup for Town. Before taking charge in Shropshire he had been managing in the Championship with Queens Park Rangers - and he had multiple promotions on his CV.
The boss joined with Shrewsbury having taken eight points from their first 15 games, and he has explained one of the 'big' contributing factors to the move.
He said: "One of the big selling points for me coming here was the future and the investment coming in because I believe it won't take a lot.
"I believe this is a very similar club to where I managed before, and I don't want to keep mentioning it (Wycombe) so I won't mention the club name.
"We had a slight investment, not massive, and we ended up in the Championship. So I would be lying to you if I said it was not one of the big reasons I came.
"I am not going to lie, honesty is always the best policy, Micky called me and said would you be interested. I said it is a tough one this Micky, I have just come out of the Championship, and then the chairman called me.
"They got me to come here, and that is when I found out about the club. I came here, and it felt very similar to what I have done in the past. Size of the club, the training ground and everything.
"When I found out about the investment, it excites me, it does. We have all got to be fair to Mr Wycherley (Roland Wycherley, the chairman). He has run the club really well for several years.
"We have been in League One for 10 years, and we are the longest-serving club in the division, to keep us there has been fantastic, the money he has put in, I salute him, I really do.
"With the money in League One it stretches a million miles away from where it should be, I think the chairman goes I cannot keep up and we have got to respect him for that.
"I hope to get some investment to keep Shrewsbury going, and yes, that was really exciting for me.
"A lot of respect for Mr Wycherley and what he has done, and the decision he has made.
"So yes, I want the investment in, that is a big reason why I came and I don't need millions and millions I just need a chance to compete with the middle of the league."
Wycherley has been in charge of the club for almost three decades, but he has now found the right person to take it on.
The parties are currently in a period of exclusivity and at the Supporters' Parliament meeting on Thursday night, Ainsworth was asked what will happen if the deal falls through.
"The investment is important to me I do want the investment to come in," he responded. "I do not want to think about it not coming in. That is one of the main drivers I came, without a shadow of a doubt, because I believe that with a little bit of help, I can do what I have done before.
"There is no talk of turning tail and running if it doesn't come in - there has got to be a whole different set of conversations, but I am assuming that what we have been told is going to happen."
