Football I returned to work too soon after Covid battle, admits Cotterill
SHREWSBURY Town manager Steve Cotterill admits he returned to work after his battle with Covid-19 too soon and is still recovering from the illness which nearly killed him earlier this year.
In an address to fans on the Shrewsbury website, a tearful and emotional Cotterill paid tribute to fans, former clubs, directors, players and particularly assistant Aaron Wilbraham and academy manager David Longwell, for their “overwhelming love and kindness” in what has been a “tough period”.
Much-loved former Bristol City manager Cotterill, who led the club to League One promotion and the EFL Trophy in 2014-15, was first hospitalised with Covid-19 in January, was released after 33 days but then was readmitted with Covidpneumonia in March, which led to a weekend on the intensive care unit at Bristol Royal Infirmary.
After missing 24 matches through contracting, battling and then recovering from the illness, in which he continued to try to work from his hospital bed via constant contact with Wilbraham, he did attend the Shrews’ final three league games of 2020-21.
“I wanted to get back before the end of the season and I managed to for the last three games, not sure that was a good idea. I wasn’t anywhere near ready and my recovery time after watching a game was quite lengthy,” Cotterill said.
“Ever since the season finished, I’ve been in the gym every week to try to get myself fit to come back on July 1, just to be around and get back with the players and some of the new players we’ve signed.
“Going to the gym, making sure that I’m strong enough for those people out there that have suffered from Covid.”
Cotterill, who has also managed Cheltenham Town, Notts County, Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Birmingham City, and Portsmouth, revealed he received 2,000 messages from people all across the football spectrum during his time out of the game and the support has left him overwhelmed.
Shrewsbury finished 17th in League One as Wilbraham led the team, with Cotterill making decisions remotely and he confirmed he will go into further detail on Covid-19 and the challenges he faced later in the summer. “I think the players last season that are not here anymore should never ever be forgotten, that group of players what they did last year,” Cotterill added.
“They had a manager at the start of the season, then they had a new manager, then they had an assistant and first-team coach running things. So I don’t think any of those players, even though they’ve left the football club, should ever be forgotten.
“While there wasn’t any major achievement - promotions, cups won - there was an incredible amount of effort.”
I wasn’t anywhere near ready and my recovery time after watching a game was quite lengthy