Paul Hurst considering wholesale changes for Shrewsbury Town in January
Paul Hurst has hinted towards wholesale changes at Shrewsbury Town in January if the squad's desire does not match expected levels.
The Town chief watched his side limp to a deserved defeat at Fleetwood Town on Tuesday night, following Saturday's reversal at Sheffield United.
Back-to-back defeats have seen Salop drop to the foot of League One as the positive start to life under Hurst, which saw Town go four matches unbeaten, shuddered to a halt.
The ex-Grimsby boss has made no secret of his ambition to put his own stamp on the Shrewsbury squad once the transfer window opens in the new year.
And Tuesday's flat display in Lancashire has reaffirmed the need to bolster ranks if Town are to stave off the threat of relegation this season.
"I said from the start that the idea is that there would naturally be some changes come January," Hurst said.
"How many there are, on the showing on Tuesday night, you would say there has to be a lot.
"I want players that want to be here and play for this football club. At the minute, it's not good enough.
"In some aspects, it's (transfer window) something that would be nice to come around quicker."
Hurst has been keen to offer the current crop, that he inherited from Micky Mellon, a chance to prove their worth.
But he is demanding to see that players want to pull on the shirt and dig the club out of the mire.
Town welcome mid-table Port Vale to Greenhous Meadow for the Shropshire-Staffordshire showdown on Saturday.
And while he faces a challenge to lift his charges, Hurst is demanding commitment from within his squad.
"These lads have got the shirt. Naturally I want to bring people in but they need to want to keep wearing the shirt and getting us out of trouble," he added.
"Ultimately it would be an achievement to get out of where we are – let's be part of that group that does that.
"There has to be some leadership from me to a degree, but I'm very honest and maybe some people can't take that and don't like it.
"But whoever I select on Saturday, and it's something that'll give me sleepless nights, they have to go out and perform. It's not about me.
"I can give them ideas and confidence but there has to be a human effort and commitment side to it to give you any chance. And I don't think that was there on Tuesday."
