Town owner Marcus Evans says the club will be aiming to introduce a universal playing style at both academy and first-team levels and increase the Blues’ sports science expertise under new manager Paul Hurst.

“It’s a new era and a key part of my vision for the club moving forwards is to create an innovative and modern culture in the way we operate at the training ground in the development of players and coaching staff,” Evans told the club site, outlining his blueprint going forward in addition to the fundamentals previously set out in his Five-Point Plan.""

“We already have a good foundation in place and now we want to take the best of what we have and enhance it.

""“As we have always done in the past, the manager will have full authority in the running of the football side of the club and he will be ably supported by Chris Doig and existing staff covering coaching, sports science, medical, fitness and recruitment.

""“A key responsibility of Paul’s will be to oversee our evolving strategy to develop a playing style as well as a fitness and mental attitude ethos throughout all aspects of the club, and to work with [academy head of coaching and player development] Bryan Klug and the club’s coaches who will translate these goals as appropriate through all age groups. "

“To further assist the transition of players from one squad to the next there will be greater involvement of coaches across the board, so our U23 coaches will be part of the first-team set-up, while Paul and Chris will have an active role within the U23s and U18s where possible.

""“Sports science is becoming an increasingly important area of the weaponry at clubs and we are making great strides forward in this area and that will continue.

""“[Academy manager] Lee O’Neill will head up this department and will be supported by a soon-to-be-appointed first-team sports scientist and fitness coach, ensuring we transfer best practice in fitness and medical across all squads with a goal to significantly increase availability for minutes on the pitch for all players.”

The likes of Andre Dozzell, David McGoldrick, Tom Adeyemi, Emyr Huws and Teddy Bishop missed much of 2017/18 due to injury and Town hope an expanding partnership with Dr Gavin Devereux and the University of Suffolk will help reduce the casualty list going forward.

""“We will be monitoring players closely through training and games using GPS techniques,” explained O’Neill, who was the academy’s head of sports science prior to his current role, having gained a degree in that field from Loughborough University. "

“We will also be in a position to step up our observation of players’ well-being, looking for signs of fatigue, nutritional needs, making sure their sleep patterns are right. We will be doing saliva, hormone and cortisol tests.

""“There will be a constant screening of players’ physical needs using the most advanced equipment in bio-mechanics to aid strength and conditioning.""

“It is all designed to give players from first-team to academy the best possible chance of reaching their maximum potential physically and of course, reduce the risk of injury.""

“This area of the game is only part of the evolving jigsaw puzzle that makes up a football team and it’s there for the manager to take what he wants from it, but it’s important we provide the best support service we can to the players and coaching staff.”

New boss Hurst was a firm believer in sports science while at Shrewsbury, where his comparatively small squad was among the fittest teams.

He says he wants his Blues side to play on the front foot but will also expect them to put in the hard yards.

"“I won’t be reinventing the game. The requirements of hard work and commitment will be there,” the new manager, who officially takes charge on June 18th, added. "

“I will be looking for the players to give their all. That should be a minimum requirement in any team but it doesn’t always work out like that. "

“From that base, I want us to play on the front foot though. I want to have energy and intensity in our performance and, above all, I will be encouraging the players to go out and play and enjoy their job.

""“I have always tried to do that wherever I have been as a manager. To get players to enjoy the way they play on a football pitch.”

Photo: ITFC

mickymacsbarmyarmy added 19:55 - Jun 6 Running out...What defenders could you mean need "to show more composure on the ball?' Wouldn't be captain Marvel himself being the first & our Danish brown nose world cup star the other. I.M.O..if we're to sweep everything McCarthy away from the club Chambers, Knudsen & Slide have to go !!
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mickymacsbarmyarmy added 19:56 - Jun 6 *SKUSE not slide *
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GiveusaWave added 20:04 - Jun 6 I know some clubs have Sports Psychologists.....anybody know if we have one?
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rfretwell added 20:10 - Jun 6 Sports science has its place and we would all love it to minimise pulled/torn calves, hammys, groins etc but I cant see that being the case.
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carsey added 20:13 - Jun 6 All sound very positive to me and hopefully it will bear fruit. On a slightly different note having followed the Aston Villa story in recent days and the financial mess they are in I'm kind of pleased Evans hasn't risked all on promotion. Would be nice to stick two fingers up to others if we can make happen without making the club bankrupt.
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ashp19 added 20:41 - Jun 6 A solid news item! I do believe we have heard from ME twice in the past few weeks and it's so welcome. I've always been grateful for MES' support, as nobody buys a club who doesn't care - but the one factor always missing for me was the engagement that is visible to the people that really do care (although guess ME doesn't spend his hours on blogs (if you do, caught you!) like us, dare I say numbskulls *ode to poorer times!)) It's very refreshing that ME (through himself or others) has realised part of his responsibility is to engage with the very core of the club, it's an easier route and I truly believe better times lie ahead for my ITFC, our ITFC!

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Charlie_pl_baxter added 20:42 - Jun 6 This seems a similar approach to the whole marginal gains thing at British Cycling. Clearly we still need the talent in the first place as well but think how many games we lost by a late goal last season. Having our players that bit fitter and sharper at the end of each game has to be worth a few points.
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blueheartXT added 20:47 - Jun 6 A change was certainly needed I really hope it all works out well At least Marcus is making the right noises Just hope he feels happy to risk a few MORE million to help us to the promised land
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BlueandTruesince82 added 20:54 - Jun 6 Carpet, the villa story is v interesting. Rumour is they may not meet their commitments which include June's player and staff wages totalling some £8 milion plus a £2 milion tax bill. I dare say that a quick sale of Grealish will provide short term relief but word is they have consulted insolvency practitioners. £11 million on Wallace much lauded on these pages, a man so disruptive he was dispatched to Australia on loan is just one example of what can befall once great clubs

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airliner added 21:13 - Jun 6 I thought Milne wrote this, just sounds like a load of sound bites , unless you give Paul hurst money to spend it's just same old garbage coming from the management !
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TonyHumesIpswich added 21:21 - Jun 6 Villa will be fine. Sell Grealish and Adomah, and they'll be able to run well next season. Still think they'll be playing for a top six position next year. However, if they don't get promoted next season things could start to get tougher for them. My view is they'll gain promotion next season, even without the likes of Grealish and Adomah. Massive squad and plenty of talented players in their line up.

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bernie added 21:56 - Jun 6 Still neeeds a bit of money Marcus !! But sounds encouraging. Love the blues 😀
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goat_man added 22:58 - Jun 6 Let's hope this manager sticks to it and doesn't just retreat into some negative shell and the first sign a team might score against us. I never want to see any more than 1 deep lying defensive midfielder in our team ever again!
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bobble added 00:29 - Jun 7 mumbo jumbo from the top...
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KiwiBlue2 added 01:16 - Jun 7 Good to hear that the 5 Point Plan has been dusted off. It made a lot of sense when it was first announced but then seemed to have been shelved. This is hopefully the beginning of a new era where positivity will be the expectation on and off the field. Looking forward to August......
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MyBlueHeaven added 03:48 - Jun 7 Would someone like to remind Evans that this was what his first manager was doing 10 years ago?
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LegendofthePhoenix added 05:26 - Jun 7 Delighted to hear this news, I've posted previously on here to say that we need to use technology to monitor players 24/7 for their fitness and to predict when they need resting. Clubs like Basel have done this and virtually eliminated soft tissue injuries - if we can emulate taht how different would our position be, having Huws, Dozzel, Adeyemi, McGoldrick fit and available all season? The playing style across all teams is also very welcome news. Maybe ME is learning how to run a football club.

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rugbytomc added 07:11 - Jun 7 I think this is just confirmation that the manager brought in has a passing style which matches what's already being coached in the academy, u-18 and u-23 sides
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Dissboyitfc added 07:21 - Jun 7 legend of the pheonix.. mcgoldrick has left the building
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DurhamTownFan added 07:24 - Jun 7 I'm amazed this wasn't already happening! Most other clubs have been doing this for years. Shows you how out of touch we were under MM, clearly priori ting results over footballing identity and youth development. Kinda sad that the owner has to explicitly say this to show it's happening! But I'm glad he has.
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woohoo added 07:36 - Jun 7 Excellent. Now, let's win some football games and send the fans home happy!
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Barty added 08:03 - Jun 7 Sounds good to me and lets hope we get plenty of entertainment next season - something sadly lacking over the past few seasons . I sincerely hope that there is a reasonable budget for Hurst. Looking forward to next season.
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dirtydingusmagee added 08:11 - Jun 7 im no scientist so I cant say much on the content ,but its a step in the right direction that ME is actually saying anything. Long may it continue ,the club was losing contact with the fans. Hopefully the dark days will get swept away by a tide of hope, confidence and communication. Well I for one think things are going to change . Bring it on COYB ……...Oh I forgot …..MICK OUT .

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farquinell added 09:21 - Jun 7 Spruce Moose you are a complete muppet
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BlueMachines added 09:42 - Jun 7 The difference in having a manager that is up to date with modern football thinking. Careful what you wish for!!
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