On-loan Blues right-back Josh Emmanuel’s Rotherham United face prospective new Town manager Paul Hurst’s Shrewsbury in this afternoon’s League One play-off final at Wembley (Sky Sports Football, 2.30pm).

Emmanuel has enjoyed an impressive campaign with the Millers and carried off their Young Player of the Season award.

While the 20-year-old’s main focus will be helping his loan side to return to the Championship at the first attempt, the Londoner may also have one eye on making an impression on Shrews boss Hurst, who is expected to be his manager by the time he returns to Suffolk for the start of pre-season at the end of June.

Town will hold formal talks with the 43-year-old and his club in the week ahead having kept their distance during the Shropshire side’s play-off endeavours.

However, it’s long been understood that they have been given a strong indication that negotiations will progress positively whatever the outcome of Sunday's final and barring a late hitch Hurst seems set to be named Town manager later this week.

Those talks with Blues owner Marcus Evans seem unlikely to take place face to face with Hurst, who is understood to be on a rolling contract at Shrewsbury, flying to Dubai for a delayed family holiday on Monday.

“I think I might struggle to get on the plane if it goes well!” the former Ilkeston, Boston and Grimsby boss told the Shropshire Star.

“I know some managers have not had a holiday before, but I think it’s needed. Every experienced manager I’ve spoke with said you 100 per cent go on holiday.

“I’m certainly going to take that advice. You need it. It’ll be just over a four-week turnaround [before pre-season] for us. It’s no time at all.

“It’s my decision but I’ve sacrificed quite a lot of family time over the course of season and since joining.

“But I’ve changed the holiday once, I genuinely didn’t think we’d be involved in the play-offs. I think I should’ve been going on holiday on Wednesday. It’s the same holiday but it’s cost me more money! Of course, I’d take it.”

Once he returns from to the UK Hurst will continue an LMA Football Diploma course prior to the start of pre-season, whether that’s at Montgomery Waters Meadow or, as seems likely, Portman Road.

Hurst wants his team, who finished third in League One, to write themselves into Shrewsbury folklore this afternoon by winning promotion into Championship, a level at which they last played in 1988/89.

“It would be great for that team,” he added. “If we were successful I’m sure you’d see pictures that would be in place here for many, many years.

“If I’m still here and came back and visited in 20 years' time, I’d like to think the chances are you’d see memories from that day. There may be some from [the play-off semi-final victory over] Charlton, I don’t know.

“There may be some from the Checkatrade [Trophy, in which they lost to Lincoln in the final at Wembley], but that won’t sit as proudly compared to winning promotion.”

Hurst remains the odds-on favourite to take over at Town at 2-1 odds-on with Bet Victor, while Tim Sherwood, who was among those interviewed by Evans, is now the second favourite at 9-4 but having slipped from 6-4 yesterday.

Chris Coleman is at 12-1 and Mark Warburton, Frank Lampard and Tony Mowbray 16-1, while Scott Parker is at 25-1 along with Simon Grayson, George Burley, Graham Potter, John McGreal, Paul Cook, Shefki Kuqi and Alan Pardew. Of those, only Lampard and Parker are believed to have been among those interviewed.

Elsewhere, Hurst was yesterday reported to be in Barnsley’s thoughts as they look for a new manager having sacked Jose Morais following their relegation to League One.

However, former Peterborough boss Grant McCann is the 2-1 odds-on favourite to take over at Oakwell with Hurst seventh in the betting at 20-1.

Photo: Action Images

Seasider added 14:48 - May 27 I hope for Josh' sake that Shrewsbury win this afternoon,dont think there is any chance of him staying with the Shrews though whatever happens.Hope same applies to his Manager
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ajs83 added 14:52 - May 27 Emmanuel is in the starting XI
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ajs83 added 14:56 - May 27 That's the Rotherham starting XI, I think Seasider is a little confused.
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Essexipswichboy added 15:51 - May 27 I still think there is someone else out there! And don't forget there are clubs without managers who are also watching this afternoon very interested. If shrews don't win promotion today will PH still be as attractive .....ie he didn't get them promoted so is he that good
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tomitfc added 15:56 - May 27 Maybe we should be taking a closer look at Paul Warne after that first half!
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TimmyH added 16:03 - May 27 Shrewsbury certainly second best and offering little...
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Essexipswichboy added 16:18 - May 27 Maybe TimmyH the rumours are true and that is the reaction of the team
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coolcat added 17:08 - May 27 Match gone to extra time.
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midastouch added 17:21 - May 27 rotherham have scored, shame as i wanted the drama of penalties, the shrews might be able to sneak back in but time is running out.
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Kirbmeister added 17:36 - May 27 Emmanuel's having a good game. He'll be Town's regular right back next season.
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midastouch added 17:42 - May 27 that's it, hurst could be available at a discount now!
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BlueandTruesince82 added 17:48 - May 27 Is Evans at the game?
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Europablue added 17:49 - May 27 Well Shrewsbury lost, so I guess that is a good thing. The tone of the article makes it sound like we tapped Hurst up. I won't be happy until there is an announcement that he has actually signed.
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dirtydingusmagee added 17:51 - May 27 Well played Josh, sound performance ! WARNE IN .
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PMK added 17:53 - May 27 Not impressed with the way shrews played. Perhaps we should be looking at the opposition manager!!
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wezley53 added 18:15 - May 27 Shrewsbury were not very impressive, forget Hurst and sign up Fat Frank.
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itfcserbia added 18:20 - May 27 People tend to forget how big an outsider Shrewsbury just were here. Imagine Burton and Villa in the Championship play off finals and slag the Burton manager off?
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budgieplucker added 18:23 - May 27 Rotherham scores 45 goals at home this season. The only team to better them with more goals at home was Blackburn with one more - 46 By contrast Shrewsbury scored on 32 goals at home. Perhaps the suggestion of looking at Paul Warne is not a bad one after all. I know the Rotherham Chairman rates him highly and he had to be persuaded to take the job full time when he took over the role. An assuming manager who is liked by his players. The fact that he was born in Norwich shouldn't put us off, I can't see that he has had any connection with the budgies though.

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muhrensweet4thijssen added 18:32 - May 27 Oh dear. Looked a little rabbit in headlights in extra time. All about team unity, punching above thier weight, lower division players able to do a ‘job', falling short but to be applauded for doing more than expected.......... sounds familiar! Rotherham manager impressed me a lot, as did emmanuel! Time will tell but if i were hurst i would be staying put as to step up a level and improve on what youve not managed and walk away from what hes built into frankly a mess would be a backward step to me. Genuinely hope im wrong

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stiffy501 added 18:40 - May 27 Paul Warne mmmm Spotted the potential of Josh and got the best out of Moore perhaps worth an interview ??????
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dirtydingusmagee added 19:54 - May 27 failing to get Shrews promoted may not be total failure however it dosnt leave much for Hurst to brag about really ,Ilkeston ,Boston ,Grimsby ! hope if he is the target ,he can step up, .Perhaps Evans target has been Warne all along ! caretaker manager ,given job ,wins promotion same season , dosnt sound too shabby on cv.
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Seasider added 15:47 - May 28 Sorry folks of course he plays for Rotherham,and is their player of the season I believe. Hope Josh will get more time here next season than he did under Mick
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