Paul Hurst set to crack down on Shrewsbury Town disciplinary issues
Shrewsbury chief Paul Hurst will implement fines from next season to help ease the discipline problems within Town's ranks.
Salop's disciplinary record has come under fire this season and is among the worst in the Football League.
They have been shown seven red cards in all competitions, while Ivan Toney and Gary Deegan are both out of the next two games with Bristol Rovers and Bolton Wanderers having collected 10 yellow cards.
Hurst, who has been in charge of 10 matches since his arrival in late October, will set deterrents to halt the number of cautions and dismissals.
"The disciplinary record overall is not good enough," said Town's boss.
"There are things that I'd like to have in place at the start of the season in particular and that will be for next season.
"Realistically, fines will hopefully act as a deterrent.
"I think I was sent off once which I felt was a harsh decision because I'd been fouled first.
"I never missed a game through suspension after accumulating yellow cards. At the same time, I'd always class myself as someone fully committed.
"I said about Abs' (Ogogo) red (at Sheffield United). I can see why he was sent off but was it 100 per cent a red card? I'm not sure.
"I don't want to take it away from them. In our position we need to stand up and fight.
"Something milling around (when I came) was that the team's got no fight so I don't want to take that all away so we're like fairies on the pitch. It's striking that balance."
Three of the red cards have came under Hurst's stewardship – two at Bramall Lane and one in defeat at Fleetwood on Tuesday.
While the boss argues yellow card decisions can be contentious, the totals – given the early stage of the season – are avoidable.
"Deegs's (Deegan) the other night. Was it a booking, did it deserve a yellow?" added Hurst.
"But in time, I'll look at each yellow on its merit.
"If you've accumulated 10 before Christmas I dare say some are self-inflicted and you've got to be cuter, more savvy.
"Look at Tones (Toney), he gets into a lot of tussles, that's great. He wins free-kicks, but some reactions afterwards have to be cuter. Just smile and laugh and if the defender wants to push you, let him do it.
"It doesn't mean you're scared – it's playing the game."
