Micky Mellon expected to take over at Conference side Tranmere after leaving League One Shrewsbury

Micky Mellon is expected to drop down two divisions this week to become the new manager of Tranmere, after League One Shrewsbury confirmed he had decided to leave the club.

It is understood the 44-year-old told his squad on Thursday before training he was leaving the Shrews after almost two-and-a-half years.

Shrewsbury later announced Mellon's exit, with assistant Mike Jackson also departing, with the pair heading to Tranmere, who sit ninth in the Vanarama National League and sacked Gary Brabin in September.

"Shrewsbury Town manager Micky Mellon has left the club by mutual consent," read a statement on Shrewsbury's official website.

Mellon had three spells as a player at Tranmere and made 205 appearances for the club. Jackson also played 102 times for Tranmere.

Mellon joined Shrewsbury in 2014 and guided them to promotion from League Two in 2015 before keeping them up last season. He leaves with Shrewsbury in the relegation zone ahead of Saturday's trip to Bradford.