Shrewsbury chief executive Brian Caldwell has conceded it’s inevitable other clubs will show interest in Shrews’ manager Paul Hurst given their success this season. We understand the 43-year-old, who is the bookies’ latest favourite to take over at Town, is a very serious contender for the job having been among those recommended to Blues owner Marcus Evans, but it’s reported no contact has yet been made with League One’s third-placed side.

“There is nothing we can do,” Caldwell told the Shropshire Star. “It is down to the success we’ve had this season and last since he’s come here.

“He’s really kicked the club on. I think it’s inevitable, because of the success he’s had, he’s going to get linked with other jobs, we appreciate and understand that.

“As long as we’re all honest with each other, I’d suggest there will be a time when Paul will get the right job offered to him. I’m not saying it’s just now and we want that to be as long in the future as possible.

“If you’ve not got an ambitious manager who wants to go on and do better and better all of the time then you won’t succeed. It’s inevitable the success that he’ll get linked with most jobs. It’s like ‘here we go again’.”

Caldwell hopes Hurst, who took over at the Montgomery Waters Meadow in October 2016 following a successful spell in charge at Grimsby, will remain with the Shrews, who could reach the Championship this season via the play-offs, for a while yet.

“The relationship that Paul, myself and the chairman have got, we talk on a regular basis,” he added. “There’s a lot of trust between the three of us. It’s an important link. We’ll always be honest and straight.

“I don’t think we need to do anything because Paul understands we can’t go and spend X amount of pounds on a player. We’ll live within our means as we always will.

“Paul is not the type to get upset and say he wants to go somewhere else. Everybody is ambitious in life. There will come a time he perhaps wants to move on, but as long as he continues to be successful we hope it’s in a few years’ time.”

Hurst is now the 5-2 favourite for the vacancy with Bet Victor ahead of Chris Coleman at 6-1, the former Wales manager having briefly headed the betting yesterday following his Sunderland exit.

Shefki Kuqi is third favourite at 8-1, Wigan’s Paul Cook is at 10-1, then ex-Blues boss Roy Keane a shock and very unlikely entry into the market at 12-1 with Tony Mowbray 14-1, Östersunds manager Graham Potter another new name in the running at 20-1 alongside Sol Campbell, and Mark Warburton and Taiwan manager Gary White at 25-1.

Meanwhile, TWTD understands Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke, whose name is yet to cross the bookies’ radar, is another of the managers to have been recommended to Blues owner Evans, who it's believed is starting the process of interviewing potential candidates this week.

The 54-year-old, formerly manager at West Brom and Reading as well as assistant boss at Newcastle, Chelsea, West Ham, Liverpool and Aston Villa, has had a hugely impressive season at Rugby Park since taking over in October last year, overseeing a climb from bottom of the Scottish Premiership with only three points from eight games to their current position of fifth with 55 points from their 35 matches.

Elsewhere, ex-Blues boss Mick McCarthy is the 11-4 on favourite to return to his former club Sunderland following Coleman’s departure.

McCarthy was spotted on South Tyneside yesterday, although it’s understood his presence in the North-East was related to his property portfolio in the area rather than the vacancy at the Stadium of Light, where he was in charge from 2003 and 2006.

Photo: TWTD

OwainG1992 added 10:14 - May 1 It's interesting how I think many of us have no idea who we are actually going to end up having in charge.
3

elbuerto added 10:19 - May 1 I'm still hoping for Gian Piero Gasperini.
0

itfcserbia added 10:22 - May 1 What Potter did at Ostersunds is very impressive. Glad to see him among the candidates.
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terryf added 10:23 - May 1 Wouldn't be surprised if McCarthy applies for the Ipswich job...lol!!! Actually he'd probably do a good job at Sunderland and get them promoted and tell us all what we've missed. Exciting times for the Blues now and I'm optimistic about next season. Hope Marcus goes for a promising young Manager and I wouldn't be surprised if he had a Director of Football alongside him.
3

cheddyblue67 added 10:42 - May 1 I'm still hoping for Wenger....
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bostonusablue added 10:43 - May 1 Please, please a big NO to Coleman. It would be like rehiring Mick!
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martin587 added 10:57 - May 1 I feel these are very exciting times ahead for the club.The young players coming through and the quality of the first team players must offer hope for a very good season 2018/19. The names being thrown at this club are very interesting,although some I would never entertain,namely Coleman,Campbell (backwards move). I'm hoping it's Hurst or Cook,two very good positive managers with a lot to prove in the game.I would rather steer clear of Ex Town players.A fresh start is required without previous connections to the club as I think there would be too much pressure on them to succeed. Just my opinion.🤔

9

blueblood_soldier added 11:30 - May 1 I'm having issues hanging my hat on a name... I said I wanted Crowley's from when they beat us with Lincoln but then when I heard they like hoof ball I changed my mind, Maurice the Dutch guy was then next to get me going, and kuqis interview was enough to make any town fan think why not. I the see the success of some of these lower league managers and would be happy with them... Im lost! I think all that I do know is that I don't want Coleman, McLaren, Pardew, or any of that nature... Marcus has a massive job on his hands but I think it is at a time when he is almost spoilt for choice!

5

bobble added 11:43 - May 1 Ange Postecoglou is my first pick,then george burley, then tony mowbray...the rest are just ........ .. ........
0

Vizslaraner added 11:49 - May 1 Love it to be hurst, he is exactly the type we should be looking to enploy
12

Monkey_Blue added 11:52 - May 1 Coleman is getting a lot of bad press on here. He did pretty well at Fulham especially as the best players were sold and was pretty harshly sacked. This is his first relegation. He did pretty well in Spain and resigned because of a lack of ambition at Sociedad. I think they'd lost once in 11 games when he left. He kept Coventry up which anyone who saw what has happened to them since would see it as an achievement. He did a fantastic job with Wales. Yes Sunderland have gone down but that club has been in a state for years. I'm not saying he'd be my first choice but his record isn't so bad and he has got experience of managing abroad and at international level. I like the sound of hurst btw but whoever is appointed will need to be a good coach and have an eye for a player given they won't be handed huge funds. When Mick spent reasonable cash we got good players. Ward, Webster, Garner, Waghorn etc.

2

FenboyBlue added 11:54 - May 1 Evans has tried 3 successive managers with previous promotional achievements. None of which were repeated with us. So time to change tack. This time round must be the longest list of candidates where I've thought "yeah maybe, give it a go".
3

brendenward35 added 11:59 - May 1 Someone somewhere is giving the club direction on players contracts so I personally think someone has already agreed on the job and just waiting for the season to finish before this is announced. Think ME was playing games when he said end of may early june think he already knows who's coming to Town. Lets wait and see
3

Pilgrimblue added 12:17 - May 1 Hurst would be good but new names like Clarke and Potter sound very interesting. Always thought that it would be someone that wasn't in the early list so maybe it'll be Gary White, his cv is very impressive.
7

itfc58 added 12:34 - May 1 I'd quite like to see Frank Lampard with uncle Harry guiding him for a season or 2 till he finds his feet. He is bound to have good contacts at Chelsea & Man City and they would probably trust him with some of their promising young talent, and i believe that he would give youth a chance and play attacking exciting football.
3

Bert added 13:03 - May 1 With Keane being mentioned that shows how little bookies really know. I would quickly ask for a refund on my renewal if true !!!!!
7

blockb_steward added 13:21 - May 1 I think someone like Hurst would be good for Town. ME will appoint who he thinks is best for the role, perhaps there is a 'wild card' that nobody has yet mentioned? As for MM for Sunderland, I think that is the right move for him and the club in that position. I think he would do well there.
2

Carberry added 13:30 - May 1 With the spending strategy unchanged we won't be getting an established manager such as 'Arry, McLaren, Pardew etc (thank goodness) because they will want money to spend. That leaves the likes of lower division, younger or inexperienced individuals as the pool we are fishing in. Tough decision for the owner.
3

londontractor85 added 13:39 - May 1 Hurst ticks all the boxes for me. I guess we'll have to wait and see how Shrewsbury get on in the playoffs...
5

ArnieMsBigToe added 13:49 - May 1 Keane . . . . arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!
3

Europablue added 14:22 - May 1 So what we have learnt is that bookies have odds based on risk and not based on information. If Roy Keane were rehired we might as well sell the stadium because we won't need any of those seats.
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runningout added 14:23 - May 1 No from me to returning ex managers, or players yet.. Jody Morris to add name to fire
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TR11BLU added 14:23 - May 1 This would be great news but my guess is he is, at most, another that has applied. The bookies have no idea, they have to pitch a line somewhere and the proof is a different favourite every day. Next managers are volatile markets and when the book closes is when we should sit up and listen. Onwards and upwards
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BobbyBell added 14:39 - May 1 I have always felt that ME was waiting for someone in particular but now I'm beginning to doubt that. I just hope we don't dilly dally too long and allow other clubs to make their move before us.
2

Bluewelshman added 14:43 - May 1 Don't Panic...but I've just seen Roy Keane at 12/1 on Bet Victor.
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