Shrewsbury boss Paul Hurst happy to play waiting game on contract talks
Paul HURST says his players will have to play the waiting game for talks on their futures, despite handing out an extension to midfielder Abu Ogogo’s deal.
Other Shrewsbury first-team members see deals run out this summer – including Shaun Whalley and Mat Sadler – but boss Hurst is relaxed at the prospect of thrashing out terms once the season finishes.
While Hurst admitted it would be ideal to begin talks at an earlier stage, holding them off until after the final game of the season isn’t alien to him given a number of play-off charges with Grimsby.
“With some things (my hands are tied),” said Hurst, whose side tackle rivals Walsall at Greenhous Meadow today. “Players wise, there’s no doubt that – not knowing the league you’re in – there are players that say ‘I’d be interested if you were in League One but in League Two, then I’m not so sure.’
“You do have to wait, it is a bit of a waiting game. I am relatively comfortable with that because I’ve been used to playing the last game of the season and then having to sort decisions out.
“That doesn’t faze me. It’s something that I’m used to. I’m confident we’ll get things sorted as soon as possible.”
With other contracted players struggling for minutes, Hurst is aware players may seek an exit come the summer.
Until then the boss has encouraged his group to remain a tight unit and stay professional.
He added: “There aren’t loads of players out of contract. I’m sure once the end of the season arrives or we know our fate, then conversations will start to be had.
“Some players under contract haven’t played anywhere nearly as much as they’d have liked. They might come and say they don’t want to be here – who knows?
“The big focus at this moment in time is to ask them to stick together no matter your current situation. Approach your job as your title suggests – ‘a professional’ – and I will treat people the best way I can.
“Everything else has took a bit of a back seat.”
