Blues manager Paul Hurst insists his summer policy of largely bringing in players from the lower leagues was the right approach, despite admitting that Town are firmly in a relegation battle.

Hurst signed 12 players during the close season, seven of them from Leagues One and Two.

Yesterday, former skipper Matt Holland said on talkSPORT that it was “asking an awful lot of those players” to all make the jump to the Championship together.

“I think the idea behind that was that we were trying to help the club move forward,” Hurst said. “I think, from memory, the fans were used to getting a certain type of player and didn’t like that.

“Now we’ve already got still a group of players here who perhaps fit into that category that they’re talking about, so I still think that it was the right way to go.

“I think he’s probably right, as in it’s a big ask, but maybe you’re looking for some of those to get a little bit more help along the way as you progress.

“I didn’t expect every one of those players to come in and play 46 league games, that’s for sure.

“But in time you’re wanting them to contribute at various points. And then as the seasons move on that they do become players that are established because you’ve got to have an opportunity first to get to that point.

“That’s where the thought process for it was at. Matt’s entitled to his opinion and if he’s right, he’s right. But if he’s not then…

“But it’s very easy to comment from the outside. It’s funny because [QPR manager] Steve McClaren was speaking before the game and said he doesn’t like anyone really passing comment that much unless they’ve been in the job themselves. I thought that was interesting from such an experienced manager.”

While those players came in, does he feel too much Championship experience departed? “Possibly, I know there’s been a lot made of the lads that went out. Now all I will say is each one of those players wanted to leave the football club.

“You would have to ask them face-to-face - and whether they’d be genuine or not — whether they wanted to leave because of me or whether they wanted to leave because of the football club or whether they wanted to leave because of the football club that they were going to.

“I certainly think in Adam Webster’s case, I think we’d worked together for maybe two days so I’d be very surprised if it was me. In David McGoldrick’s case, he wasn’t on any sheet or budget I was given [having the club left in May].

“That leaves two players. Joe Garner clearly wanted to go back home and Martyn Waghorn, I said I really liked the lad, we got on well and he found the situation difficult.

“So unless there was something that they weren’t telling me I think we’re comfortable where we’re at.

“It’s easy to say you don’t have to let players go, but I think that’s a little bit naïve and you’ve maybe not been in the job and around football if you think that by saying ‘no’ you would have got the same player that’s performed in the past for Ipswich Town.”

As it stands at the moment, is Hurst confident that this squad is good enough to avoid relegation?

“At the minute there’s no doubt, whether we like it or not, we’ve got to accept that that’s the situation, not kind of pretend suddenly we’re going to be just outside the play-offs or mid-table.

“Let’s stare the situation straight on. At the minute there’s almost a feel of confusion around the place, instead of just saying, ’This is where we are, we’re at the wrong end of the table, we’re bottom of the table’.

“Not ‘rock bottom’ as I’ve read. I’m not sure how we’re ‘rock bottom’ when we’ve got the same points as someone else and one win could see us move up.

“But at the same time, that’s where we are so we need to accept that and be willing to do the things required to get out of the situation.”

Photo: TWTD

jas0999 added 17:57 - Oct 23 Part of the problem was budget. With only around half of funds received on offer and large gaps to fill, as Hurst said at the time division one players was pretty much his budget. BUT the signings, particularly those on loan have mainly been poor. Too many inexperienced players brought in. Evans and Hurst equally to blame.
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MickMillsTash added 18:44 - Oct 23 In the last 10 months we have also lost Hyam, Tommy Smith, Gleeson, Carter Vickers, Iorfa - all of whom had experience at this level - I know some of these were not ours but they were playing There should be someone at the club managing the manager and ensuring that decisions made are for the long term good of the club It seems to me that the 3 month whirl wind over the summer had cost cutting at its heart - ultimately you get what you pay for You might get the odd bargain at Primark- but its mostly tat that you regret buying after you've used it once.

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thundercat600 added 19:10 - Oct 23 Its blindingly obvious that after seeing his and his assistants management style they decided and has been proven rightly so that this club is only going to go one way. Why did Hurst think that these league one and two players were good enough to play in the championship. If these players were any good Championship and Premiership clubs would have snapped them up long ago, they have not and we can see why

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warktheline added 19:14 - Oct 23 ‘There's almost a feel of confusion around the place'! 😂.....your not kidding Hapless !
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Surco72 added 19:18 - Oct 23 Go and get Charlie Adam in someone with a bit of bite and leadership that we are clearly missing , with Downes , Dozzell and Chalobah doing his running
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ihatecanaries added 19:19 - Oct 23 My god the guy is a complete idiot, the worst manager we have ever had!!!!!
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Scuzzer added 19:28 - Oct 23 Well he would say that wouldn't he.
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RegencyBlue added 19:35 - Oct 23 TimmyH Sorry down arrowed by mistake.- fat fingers!
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carlo88 added 20:10 - Oct 23 I agree with most of what he says here, most on here were delighted with the young, hungry players he signed in July and August. We were also moaning about old journeymen.
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bluearmy4life added 20:23 - Oct 23 Dear me! Really?! You got it wrong Paul and so did Evans. Taxi 🚕 for both of you!
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Swn98 added 20:27 - Oct 23 Spot on BOHS and Gemini.
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LWNR2013 added 20:52 - Oct 23 I stood next to some toxic, vitriolic, hateful, abusive boo-boys in the North Stand for half of last season. They appeared, about half a dozen of them towards the end of the previous season and really pi***d me off. There was no passion that I could see and Bohslegend described them perfectly. I now sit in Churchmans and its bloody boring. Glad MM went though. Is Steve Bruce from Yorkshire?

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Woodbridgian added 21:21 - Oct 23 Interesting using something Steve McClaren allegedly said to take a cheap swipe at Holland. lets be clear Mr Hurst Matt Holland has earned the right to make any point he wants about the running of this football club, you haven't
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aas1010 added 22:00 - Oct 23 Bottom off the championship . Now tell us all mr hurst is that progress? I dnt think so . You lost the plot . Evans do the right thing tomorrow and release this idiot he's lost the plot and respect off the fans
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roytheboy added 22:16 - Oct 23 The man's having a laugh
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GiveusaWave added 23:04 - Oct 23 I can clearly see what Hurst was trying to do...but it's a real mess. A number of us questioned the goal-scoring record (which was poor even in the leagues they were in) of our signed strikers. It's not rocket science....if they aren't scoring many in league 1 or 2 then they are hardly going to score 20 in the championship! Hate to say it...but signings that QPR and Norwich made were much more sensible. For example...Pukki is a current international and scored 55 league goals in his time at Brondby. His record speaks for itself. We should have been going for quality rather than what we have done and this squad is now in chaos..... If we do get in a new manager he needs serious backing in January....if he only has these players to work with we are as good as down....

2

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 04:42 - Oct 24 PH was brought in with the brief to change the whole ethos of the club (on the cheap, it must be said). I think most fans bought into that. The changes were to involve connection with the fans, no more wholesale signings of journeymen, and promotion of the youths. He went about the task with great enthusiasm and belief, which is to be admired; PH is a likeable bloke. who if he had succeeded would have gained hero status at PR. Unfortunately, largely because of his inexperience, things haven't worked out and we are at the 11th hour before disaster strikes and we get cut off at the bottom of the table. PH remains philosophical, which is what I think irritates some fans. It's admirable to stick to your guns when the going gets tough, but PH's tone never varies. I just wish he would get angry or sarcastic occasionally and show passion (which I'm sure he has) in a different way. Still, I guess we can't ask a person, particularly one with PH's principles, to change their character. We have PH, we are at the bottom, and we are staring down the barrel. I would love him to succeed, but to be honest, I am now severely doubting his ability to pull things round. I'm sure PH will succeed again somewhere, and good luck to him; but I'm not sure it will be at PR. A great pity really for all concerned.

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tractorboybig added 07:34 - Oct 24 9 div players in one go = div one team I said at the time to quite some abuse on here. Are YOU now the ones moaning, (it pains to say I told you so)
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wychyblue added 07:41 - Oct 24 Went to see Josh Emmanuel play for Shrewsbury against Barnsley last night . He is better than Donacien and indeed Pennington playing as a right back . .£750,000 wasted there on JD as he is no better . But PH wants to do it his way and use his players . It hasn't worked Mr Hurst . Your recruitment is poor , just look at the evidence . It is plain to see.
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brittaniaman added 09:23 - Oct 24 To rub salt in to our wounds, Norwich sit up there in the playoffs with 24pts. and 65 million pounds in the Bank, while we are supposedly 100 million in debt. and a measly 9pts. What a difference in 10yrs. ?????
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bobble added 09:24 - Oct 24 i wish he would stop speaking gobblydegook and start winning games..............
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Barty added 09:38 - Oct 24 Unbelievable comments from PH [ surely he is demented ] - things are just not working out because the players he has brought in are simply not good enough at this level. Bring in Steve Bruce now.
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Maltster added 10:42 - Oct 24 The boo boys are complaining about ME but he dumped MM as they wanted the employed Mr Hurst to their delight. Now suddenly he is a bad owner again because Mr Hurst isn't good enough. Some people just need someone to blame!
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Lukeybluey added 10:50 - Oct 24 I haven't got a problem with the players that we sold in summer. Garner, Waghorn, Webster, McGoldrick. But PH decided to sign a complete new team from lower leagues and asking them all to step up at the same time, which is unfair. TBH, the youngsters that we have would have done a job in this division i'm sure, as most of them had more experience in this division than pretty much all the players we signed in the summer combined. The likes of Woolfenden, Downs, Dozzell, Nydam, Kenlock, Emmanuel, They should have been the base of our team supplemented by 2 or 3 QUALITY signings. ie a couple of strikers, and a centre back. Edwards has turned out to be a good signing so him too.

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peteswindon added 14:17 - Oct 24 This idiot never ceases to amaze me with his stupidity. Sod off and get out of our club, I have never hated a town manager until now.
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