Shropshire Star

Take a gamble, urges Shrewsbury boss Paul Hurst

Paul HURST hopes Shrewsbury’s chiefs will back him in January in a bid to turn an opportunity into ‘something special’.

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The Town boss believes his club’s business in the transfer window could determine the outcome of their season.

Hurst believes the ‘freak’ campaign, that sees his side as unlikely League One leaders, could have a memorable promotion finale if he has the opportunity to bulk up his squad in the window.

While he was backed to spend money on four signings last summer, Hurst has not been shy in admitting he has a thin squad and is light on options, should injuries and suspensions kick in.

Hurst said: “Whether we’re on the same page is something I can’t answer at this moment in time – but I hope so.

“If nothing changes moving forward and we start each season as we did this one, I wouldn’t expect us to be anywhere close to even the play-offs, realistically.

“So is it an opportunity that comes around once in so many seasons? That’s the way I view it.

“I’m not going to talk about spending absolutely stupid money. But it depends whether or not we take a little bit of a gamble, to see if we can turn it into something really special, or are we going to be restricted and maybe lose out on an opportunity?

“I just want to give the football club the best chance of trying to stay at the right end.”

Hurst revealed that conversations with the Town board on plans for the window had not yet taken place.

Uncertainty surrounds Town’s loan players, with key men Dean Henderson, Ben Godfrey and Carlton Morris not certain to remain at the Meadow.

And the boss added that the club are boosted by their lofty league position when it comes to nailing targets.

“There’s no issue or anything like that,” he added. “At this moment in time those conversations haven’t taken place.

“I’m keen to know what route we’re going to look to go down. There’s a lot of uncertainty with the squad anyway – we know that.

“I’m keen to get to January and once we’re through it I’ll be keen for it to be shut and finished.

“I’m trying to identify some players I think will improve us and, generally, we probably have a better chance of getting them as well because of where we are in the league.

“In the past they might have gone ‘I don’t fancy a relegation fight – I’m not really up for that’. I just think that everything has changed from what we’d have expected coming into this window.”