Paul Hurst looking forward to Shrewsbury Town challenge
Paul Hurst has been officially unveiled as Shrewsbury Town manager, and has expressed his delight at joining the club.
Having made the move from Grimsby, Hurst is ready to take on the sizeable task of getting Shrewsbury up from the foot of the table.
"I'm delighted," Paul Hurst said, in an interview with Shrewsbury Town.
"There was a lot of speculation around myself and this football club, so now I'm here, really looking forward to meeting the players and cracking on with a lot of hard work.
"It's a lovely ground. It's League One football. The position in the league isn't what anyone at Shrewsbury Town wants, but the aim is to come in and improve on that."
Hurst was appointed over two weeks after Salop let Micky Mellon leave the club by mutual consent. During that time they've been winless, and sit bottom of the table in League One.
"I think a lot of things are in place, but the important part is what happens on a Saturday afternoon or midweek out on that pitch, winning points and winning games," said Hurst.
"I'm looking forward to building relationships. That is a big part of going anywhere. You want people to buy into your beliefs and I want to work with good people, honest people, I'm very big on that and hopefully I will get to see that that's what's here already.
"I've had a quick look over the squad. I've had a chat with Danny Coyne about the players, but I'm not going to dig too much, I think that would be a little unfair.
"I think when a new manager comes in some people might show better form, but I don't want to make too many pre-judgements on those players."
Having secured numerous promotions during stints with Ilkeston, Boston and Grimsby, Hurst now faces a very different task in getting Salop out of the relegation zone, and is eager to start his work to make that happen.
"I think first and foremost it has to be about staying in the league,"
"It's a precarious position we are in, but there's certainly been teams in worse positions and they've managed to retain their status. I don't know whether you call that a short term goal, but that has got to be the main aim.
"Moving forward I want to see how far we can move this football club. It's extremely early, but I look at a lot of what is here and I'm very impressed.
"Ultimately it's about creating a squad that is capable and competent. Are these players that I'm inheriting good enough? Time will tell. But, we will certainly try and get everything out of them and hopefully they prove that they are."
Hurst's first game in charge is up against Southend United, before FA Cup commitments takeover and Shrewsbury host Barnet. Hurst will be hoping to see Salop turn their poor form around in both games, having lost their previous four games.
