Shropshire Star

Paul Hurst: My challenge is to keep Shrewsbury Town in League One

New Shrewsbury Town boss Paul Hurst accepts that the immediate challenge is to keep the club in League One after being unveiled as manager today.[gallery]

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Salop agreed a compensation package with Grimsby Town as Hurst and his assistant Chris Doig swapped Lincolnshire for Shropshire and the fourth tier for step three.

While Hurst's Grimsby were riding high in eighth - having returned to the Football League this season - Shrewsbury are languishing at the bottom of League One.

And the Sheffield-born boss, who enjoyed a one-club playing career with Rotherham United - other hand a short loan spell at Burton - appreciates the fight on his hands.

"Honestly? My target is to stay up. In the position we're in, that has to be the number one target," said Hurst.

"We want to try and get off the bottom of the table, that's the first target, and then move up as quickly as we can.

"But I think overall near-enough a third of the season has gone and looking at it - it's hard to change everything quickly. Often you can get an immediate reaction - I'm hoping that's the case - and then we can sustain it.

"But either way, it may be a long process or things might happen quickly. Who knows? We're dealing with humans.

"You're never quite sure what's going to happen but all I can assure the fans and everyone connected is that it won't be through a lack of time, effort and preparation on our part."

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