Paul Hurst: Fresh start needed at Shrewsbury Town

Salop finally completed the move yesterday that saw ex-Grimsby manager Hurst check in and he immediately made clear his intentions of giving the squad fair chance.

Shrewsbury sit rock-bottom of League One after just six victories on home turf since the beginning of last season and the newly-installed manager is well aware of the task he faces.

"I know there are some good players here," said Hurst. "But confidence is a massive thing in football, that has to be a part of my job to instil confidence in them and pick them up off the floor because we're not in a position that we all want to be.

"One hundred per cent there is room for improvement. I'm not going to come in and bad-mouth the previous manager or the staff that have been taking charge, we all work differently. We've all got different ideas but it's about me trying to put my stamp on it.

"It's a fresh start. It would be nice if we could go back to zero games and start the league campaign again but it's a new start and whatever's gone before, some players will have fans appreciate them more than one or two negative views towards them.

"I'm someone that's committed, someone that made the best of what I had in terms of my attributes and someone that I'd like to think managers would say they could rely on.

"I wouldn't say that I was the best player in the world but one that I think the managers would say they'd like in the squad.

"It is a challenge. I'm not going to sit here and say we're 100 per cent going to stay up, because that would be wrong. I don't know enough in terms of the players yet.

"Are they good enough? That question will be asked time and time again.

"But I've got to try and get the best out of them and that's what I can promise I will do. I'll work and I want that to be mirrored by the team.

"I've brought Chris Doig with me, who's very good, and between us we've got a really good work ethic.

"My job is to try and put a smile on peoples' faces at the weekend."

Hurst and assistant Doig will take charge of training for the remainder of the week before Saturday's crucial trip to Southend United.

While the boss admitted that the No.1 target is to secure their League One status, he was confident that the squad he inherits will know where they stand.

He added: "My target is to stay up. In the position we're in, that has to be the No.1 target. 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.

"What I can't do at the moment is change the squad, but that's good for the players. They know they're the ones I'm going to be working with and they'll get the first crack of the whip and will influence what happens from January."