The whole club feels very disconnected - Edwards
David Edwards made 211 appearances in two spells for Shrewsbury
- Published
Former Shrewsbury Town midfielder Dave Edwards said the "disconnected" League Two club needs to unite if it is to avoid relegation.
Salop are hovering just one place above the bottom two and were thrashed 6-1 in the FA Cup by Premier League side Wolves on Saturday.
Michael Appleton's side looked to have steadied the ship after a difficult start to the season with just two defeats in 10 matches in October and November.
But a winless eight-match run in the league, including four straight defeats, has left them just a point above second-bottom Harrogate who they host on Saturday (15:00 GMT).
"If Town lose that game they will be in the bottom two which would be disastrous," Edwards told BBC Radio Shropshire.
"Harrogate know they can just come to the Meadow and if they can frustrate the home team and make it difficult for them then there will be some difficult times with the fans and the players.
"The whole club at the moment feels very disconnected, and you feel if something goes against Town on Saturday, if that's the first goal or some adversity, then that will really test that relationship further."
Michael Appleton became head coach at Shrewsbury Town in March last year
'Fans have to feel something from the players'
Shrewsbury spent 10 successive seasons in the third tier until relegation to League Two last season following a disastrous run of one win from their final 17 matches.
There remains uncertainty off the pitch, too, after the collapse of two proposed takeovers last year following chairman Roland Wycherley's decision to sell the club in 2024.
"The football club is very disconnected from the fans to the players to the hierarchy, and it just feels that we're in a situation where it all has to come together because no-one wants this football club to get relegated," Edwards added.
"The chairman will desperately not want that, the players will desperately not want that, and the fans obviously won't want that either, so we have to find a way of coming together and that seems difficult at the moment."
Heading into the crunch game with Harrogate, Edwards, who made 211 appearances for Shrewsbury, said the players have to show supporters that they care.
"The fans have to feel something from the players," he said. "I'm not doubting for a moment that these players aren't working as hard as they can, they are good professionals, but they have to showcase that on a Saturday.
"It's easy if you're winning games and scoring goals, but when you're having a real tough time like this you have to show that you care.
"You have to have a connection with the football club and not think 'Shrewsbury will get relegated, it doesn't matter I'll be off'. This could be damaging for all of these players' careers."
