The 2016–17 season was Shrewsbury Town's 131st year in existence and their second consecutive season in League One after finishing in 20th place the previous season. After a poor start to the season, winning only two of the opening ten league matches, manager Micky Mellon and his assistant Mike Jackson left the club, and four subsequent successive defeats under the caretaker management of goalkeeping coach Danny Coyne saw Shrewsbury rooted to the bottom of the league table. Grimsby Town manager Paul Hurst was appointed alongside assistant Chris Doig on 24 October 2016, eventually steering the club to an 18th-placed finish, three league places and two points clear of local rivals Port Vale who occupied the final relegation place.