Paul Hurst eager to overhaul Shrewsbury Town squad
Shrewsbury fans have been told to brace themselves for another squad overhaul this summer as boss Paul Hurst eyes a dozen new signings.
The Town manager made his first close-season swoop on Wednesday with the capture of forward Arthur Gnahoua from Kidderminster Harriers.
And Hurst hopes a flurry of activity is not too far down the line as he sets about building a squad that can avoid another League One survival battle.
Hurst, in his first summer with the club after arriving from Grimsby last October, confirmed he wants another sizeable turnover of his playing staff, adding that it will be crucial his new crop have the opportunity to bond.
Town hope to shift on numerous members of the current first-team squad, with last season’s regular Gary Deegan the first to be confirmed as available for transfer, with Coventry rumoured to be interested.
Winger Shaun Whalley has committed his future to Town, while out-of-contract trio Mat Salder, Shaun Rowley and Bryn Morris are mulling over new deals.
“Probably in an ideal scenario we’d be between 10 and 12 in players,” said Hurst.
“Yes it’s a big number. My feeling and hope is that it’ll be pretty much a new squad.
“Then that’s going to be important to get the lads to bond as quickly as possible, to understand they’ll be told – before signing – what I want (from them), what Chris (Doig) wants and how we work. Then it’s about getting on with it as quickly as possible.”
Hurst is keen for his newly-assembled squad to have the opportunity to build up morale throughout pre-season, and the club are exploring opportunities to get away for a bonding activity.
“We’re looking at it, as to whether we will perhaps be able to get away for a while,” the boss added.
“Again these things all cost and add up, but I’m sure somewhere along the line we’ll definitely, whether it’s a day or longer, with some kind of team building involved.
“Because what we’d like, and certainly what we will have, is a new squad.
“So they’ll need to bond. Even if it’d been exactly the same squad you’d still do that.
“You’re always trying to get that bond stronger.
“In the things you do you find out characters in different situation that can then be transferred on the pitch. It’s something we are exploring.”
