Prospective new Town boss Paul Hurst remained tight-lipped on his future following his Shrewsbury side's 2-1 extra-time defeat by Rotherham, who featured on-loan Blues right-back Josh Emmanuel, in this afternoon’s League One play-off final at Wembley.

Asked about his anticipated move to the Blues in a post-match Sky Sports interview, the 43-year-old said: “That’s been rumbling on for a while, as I’ve been linked with a couple of other ones as well. I don’t think it’s really the time.

“I appreciate you’re doing your job, but I don’t really want to pass comment on that, I’m still very much hurting from what I’ve just seen.”

Quizzed further on whether he intended to speak to the Blues by the BBC, Hurst added: "I can't speak to them as I don't know whether they want to. If there's anything in that, there has to be an approach.

"I said right from the start that I'm ambitious, and I'm flattered to be linked with clubs like that.

"But I've been linked at various points all season and I'm still here at the minute. Let's see what happens.

"At this moment in time I'm only interested in the players. I've got some of them to speak to with regard to next season - and that's not nice.

"We've just lost a final and a couple of them are going to get some news that's not great, but that's part of being a manager."

The Millers were the better side throughout this afternoon’s game with veteran defender Richard Wood, a Blues target during Jim Magilton’s time as boss, netting the opening goal in the first half and the winner in extra-time, having won an early penalty which was saved, all from set pieces.

The Shrews’ high point was a well-worked freekick which led to Alex Rodman grabbing their second-half equaliser.

👌 When the hard work on the training ground pays off.

👏 Well played @shrewsweb. #salop #FeelEveryEmotion pic.twitter.com/wmC9erOaQX– Sky Bet (@SkyBet) May 27, 2018

Emmanuel, 20, who recently carried off Rotherham's Young Player of the Season award, had a very solid game and will have impressed opposition boss Hurst, who appears all but certain to be his manager when he returns to Suffolk for the start of pre-season at the end of June.

Town will hold formal talks with Hurst and Shrewsbury 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 and barring a late hitch Hurst looks 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 with the Shrews, flying to Dubai for a delayed family holiday on Monday.

Photo: Action Images

GiveusaWave added 04:52 - May 28 @Ploarbear1 Pure speculation. ME is an astute business man and he must have wondered during interviews whether any of the candidates would accept a No.2 position. Parker might. Sherwood? Unlikely. Lampard? Definitely not.
1

KiwiBlue2 added 04:59 - May 28 I am sure Hurst will have been sounded out very early in the process and must have expressed interest for Evans to wait. I also suspect that Ross realised that he was not the first choice and opted for the bird in hand not wanting to risk losing the Sunderland opportunity and then missing out here. If Hurst says no then I think of those now left in the running the Burley/Butcher combo would be best, say on a 1 or 2 year contract with an option for extension. That said Warburton was good at Brentford.

2

Europablue added 07:04 - May 28 I'm confident that there is at least one way Hurst will outperform MM, and that is how he relates to fans and speaks to the press. Let's give him a chance before we judge him to be so awful. Maybe MM had his reasons to dislike many of the fans...
3

dirtydingusmagee added 07:24 - May 28 Europablue, nobody saying he is awful, just a some [me included] have doubts about him at Championship level, I think the deal is done, so will bite the bullet and accept it ,and hope im wrong .
3

GiveusaWave added 07:52 - May 28 Europablue, Maybe I've missed something in someone else's post but nobody has said he is awful. Just a few have doubts about him and some (like me) would like to see Burley take charge. If the deal is done I hope that Hurst will push us into a top six place next season. No more mid-table mediocrity and a good cup run might help! A win or two against Norwich would also be nice to see. Most fans do want us competing for the top six places. For me, if we end up 8/9th with two good cup runs and a win and draw against Norwich that'll be a successful first season in charge. Second season, ending 4th or 5th. If we end up 14th to 18th then we may as well have stuck with MIck.

2

thechangingman added 07:57 - May 28 Although I am certainly not 'counting my chickens', we all know that nothing is certain until its certain, I for one would be VERY HAPPY INDEED with Hurst as our manager. After a decade of pain I believe he represents exactly what we're looking for - young, ambitious, on the way UP and probably grateful for the opportunity of managing a relatively bigger club. If he's appointed I'll be behind him every step of the way as I believe the VAST MAJORITY of us will. Onwards and upwards Town... COYB...

6

jakeyboy26 added 08:56 - May 28 Stupid to judge him on one game. Shrewsbury have played almost a dozen extra games; that's over 1000 hours more of football! Personally I was once again impressed by their play yesterday and they held one of the best teams on paper with all the tiredness creeping in. After one game Hurst was my pick so let's go and get this deal secured. COYB
3

Kuqicoo added 08:56 - May 28 Paul Hurst was one of my picks from the start tbh. Great at working with youth, gets best out of players, has turned fortunes round at each club he's been at and comes across as a thoroughly decent guy. I'd support him from the start. Some of the quite frankly daft comments on here astound me but don't surprise me at all. Burley and Butcher??? For crying out loud move on! Its not 1999. Remove those nostalgic blue tinted glasses and return to the real world. Some of you wanted a fresh start. Wanted MM out. I wanted that. You're getting that and still you moan. Truly baffling. And shameful that you are almost hounding out a manager who hasn't been employed by us yet.

16

wychyblue added 08:59 - May 28 I don't understand the Burley / Butcher thing. Club legends undoubtedly. I was lucky enough to see them play. Yes Burley did a great job whilst manager for a while ( but we were relegated also with him) .It wasn't all roses ( Finidi George etc) and he hasn't covered himself in managerial glory after that. As for Butcher his managerial record is abysmal ( check on Wiki). If it is about loving the club and knowing what it is about then give it to me as I love the club more than them pair , but it isn't. It is about the right man going forward . ME has been clear that he will not just throw good money after bad ( who does?) and requires someone who can get the best from a group of players to maximise their potential . We have a really good squad when all fit and only require a few additions. Paul Hurst ticks a lot of boxes for ME. He is a humble , honest hard working manager who is very popular with the fans and players. ( all the things us fans wanted from MM but he was the opposite ) . I was at Wembley yesterday to watch Shrewsbury (godson plays for them as I've previously said )and they probably underperformed on the day but they shouldn't really have been there if you were honest.They were the bookies favourites to be relegated at the start of the season for gods sake).Paul Hurst over the season has produced a team that has competed and OVERperformed. Isn't that what require from our manager. We have been shouting week after week on this great forum for a man who is humble , fan friendly and gets the best from a team. Paul Hurst is all these (fact ) . Now he may not be successful ( but there is no gaurentee with ANY name mentioned ) so we should get behind him and let him help turn the club around should he choose our great club. It can't be worse than the last few years so let's get excited by a new chapter at Portman road.

17

warktheline added 09:05 - May 28 Hurst was at Grimsby for a long time before achieving success. Often referred to the 'nearly team' due to falling short on many occasions. He's done an excellent job to date at Shrewsbury and their home record speaks for itself. His appointment would be a massive gamble but unfortunately our club ( Evans ) only has itself to blame for current situation. My first choice was Cowley followed by Steve Clarke, thereafter I too would employ Burley and Butcher. The dynamics of our club need realining and these two I firmly believe would most definitely achieve such!

0

ChrisFelix added 10:01 - May 28 Kugicoo Spot on with your comments.Fortunately Evans is not going to listen to the BB lovers & will appoint an up & coming manager. Very similar to the appointment of bill Mcgarry more than 50 years ago There is a reason why George Burley hasn't been involved in football over the past 5 years plus !!!!
2

bobble added 10:04 - May 28 burley /wark for me...
-6

Europablue added 10:08 - May 28 I'm not quoting anyone who said Hurst was awful in so many words, I was just trying to comment on how the mood in the comments feels like it has changed in a day from let's sign him up, to a lot of people doubting him. I don't know if it's the same people, but I can really perceive the negativity surrounding a guy who ticks most of the right boxes. There were a lot of people almost hoping for ME to make a mess of things so that they can say I told you so. One of the biggest challenges that the new manager has to deal with is the air of negativity amongst many of the supporters. I understand where that negativity has come from, but we have to get behind the new manager and give him all the support he needs to be successful.

6

tractorboybig added 10:15 - May 28 I personally have no faith in evans picking the right man for Ipswich and its supporters. It will be the right man FOR evans
2

blueheartXT added 10:46 - May 28 I think whoever the new manager is it will be a gamble and all candidates have unanswerd questions about them. I just hope ME gets it right as I'm asure he does to
2

management added 11:09 - May 28 Continually successful on limited budgets, recognised ability to sign free transfers and loan players, developing youth products, win ratio of 50% in over 500 games, aware of 1st/2nd division players, UEFA A Coaching Licence, simply the best candidate based on our resources. Yesterday, Shrewsbury were moderate and this reflects on how well Hurst has managed his team this season, one of the favourites to go down. Shrewsbury's best players were loanees(Keeper and Godfrey the Norwich player) along with a decent CB. Burley/butcher are club legends but that means nothing to the present squad as they are either too young or unaware of the calibre of both the aforementioned, please factor in that Burley/Buthcher are not likely to have been scouting Div 1/2 players, unlike Hurst. Lastly, Emmanuel does not convince me in any shape, he exhibits the same defensive frailties as Kenlock, ie continually switching off from set pieces, ie Corners/Throws and as per yesterday a Free-Kick, Shrewsbury scored due to Emmanuel failing to be alert.

-2

Razor added 11:42 - May 28 I have to say I liked the interview from Warne after the game and didnt Hurst mention 2 other clubs had been talking to him? Alla bit worrying----just get Nigel Clough in and get on with it!!
3

BlueandTruesince82 added 11:42 - May 28 Yes what has Hurst achieved apart from promtion and a no league trebble with Boston, promtion to the league with Grimsby, saving Shrews from relegation, turning them (with one of the smallest budgets in L1) into promtion contenders in 18 months, taking them to the st Johnstones paint (or whatever it's now called) final in which they also played Prem league reserve teams ............ Yeah other than that F all so rather than appoint him let's get a man out of the game for 6 years and add to that Butcher who ls record is Hibs, (one Scotland's big clubs) relegated, sacked, Newport Sacked, Sunderland sacked, Brentford (where things were so bad fans called for Martin Allen to take charge, MARTIN ALLEN!) Sacked. Yep that's a plan. Mans who has stepped up and had comparative success at every prior club vs a past his prime manager who only had success at one club (ours) and his sacked at every club that he has ever been at manager. Ironic that those who call for the club to look forward now are looking back so far that they have neck ache

12

Bluetone added 11:45 - May 28 George Burley director of football Gary White manager
4

rikksow added 12:04 - May 28 I think that we should consider Derek Adams at Plymouth, has a terrific record down there on small budgets. plays nice attractive attacking football.
4

Cheshire_Blue added 12:26 - May 28 Whoever gets the job will need backing by Evans. Mick McCarthy would have got us promoted with the right backing. Time will tell.
-3

cat added 12:34 - May 28 It appears to me that their are posters on here who are simply losing their ‘bottle' and are now saying we need a manager who's achieved something. We need a fresh approach now and a manager in the Hurst mould (who deserves some respect for overachieving with the Shrews) is exactly what we should be looking at. An up and coming manager who plays the game the right way with some fresh ideas should be the way forward, instead of the very backward (but awfully romantic) step who say the Burley/Butcher partnership would bring. Come on grow a pair, and take a risk in life because the safe options to date simply ain't worked. As the saying goes, ‘no risk, no reward'.

4

BlueandTruesince82 added 12:42 - May 28 Spot on Cat. The suggestion that Burnley and Butcher are any more or less of a risk is nonsense. Almost every managerial appointment is a risk.
7

warktheline added 12:46 - May 28 Funny, not ha ha, but peculiar how some highlight 'failures' but not successes associated to individuals, i.e Inverness!!!!! BUT do their upmost to 'buffer up' another's success at non league level !!!! Looking forward without McCarthy doesn't mean an ex manager wouldn't be a suitable 'way forward'! To clarify Burley with Butcher as number 2 ( not manager ) Some are obviously 'hankering' after McCarthy.....many of us are 'looking forward' to being once again 'entertained' at Portman Road, regardless of who enters the 'hot seat, and that's the 'bottom line', entertainment! Thereafter let's see! If Hurst gets the job I'll back him 100% and give him plenty of time to prove himself ! Hopefully you 'Mickites' will do the same!

2

BlueandTruesince82 added 13:23 - May 28 Wark the line but it's not just non league is it? He he did well at Boston and stepped up and went to Grimsby, where he won promtion and stepped up again to Shrews where he saved them and turned them round taking them to a cup final (how often have we bemoaned a lack of cup run on these pages) and a play off final. So for Hurst he has had success everywhere he has been..... who's to say he won't do the same if he comes here? Vs as I said a man that has been out of the game for years and a man who's only suucess comes in a league that many here compare to the lower leagues of England (IE where Hurst has had consistent recent success) Are you really making the same argument in Defence of Butcher that was used to attack Ross? Butcher has a litany of Failures on his CV and I fail to see how one brief period of success counteracts that? I ask you where has Hurst failed? Point to the (having googled it) checkatrade trophy final and yesterday if you wish but then you rest your argument on 2 losses in games that almost every other team in the division would want to be involved in during a season in which Shrewsbury played more games than anyone else with a squad and budget far smaller than most. Burley was great all the way up to Herts, I love the man , he delivered the best football times in my living memory. But that was a long time ago and he has been out of the game for so long and often has been associated with discord at clubs. So I ask you how is Burley/Butcher any less of a risk than Hurst. As for hankering for Mick I can't see anyone doing that a cross the comments above so I'm not sure where you think that is commimg from? Maybe I missed a post from SWN somewhere The questions was asked what has Hurst achieved and I have provided that info. It's on Wikipedia for all to see if they care to look and shows that levelling an argument of lack of achievement against him to hold absolutely no water. I then compared thise achievements with some suggested alternatives. I think Hurst stacks up pretty fairly against a man who hasn't managed for years and a serial sackee.

10

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls