Ipswich Town manager Paul Hurst is very grateful that owner Marcus Evans agreed to fund a training camp in Spain.

East Anglian Daily Times: New Blues boss Paul Hurst outlined his transfer plans yesterday. Photo: Ross HallsNew Blues boss Paul Hurst outlined his transfer plans yesterday. Photo: Ross Halls (Image: Archant)

The Blues will spend the whole of next week at a base near Alicante and could play a behind-closed-doors friendly.

It’s a late change of plan, given a trip to Carton House just outside of Dublin had been booked for what would have been a sixth successive summer prior to former boss Mick McCarthy’s departure.

Cancelling that won’t have come cheap, but Hurst felt it was vital he put his own stamp on things.

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Asked if Evans took much persuading to foot the bill, the new Blues boss produced a wry smile before replying: “I think we’ll leave it that I’m very grateful that he’s allowed us to go!

“As someone who is careful with my money and not too extravagant, I fully understand there is a cost to everything.

“This was something I felt was important though. I’m sure Ireland would have been fine and we could have got on with that, but I think the players needed a change.

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“There’s a lot of talk about me coming in, a new start, a new era and had we gone to Ireland I think that would have almost slipped back into the mindset of ‘well, that’s what we do’.”

Known for his gruelling training sessions and desire to have the fittest players in the league, Hurst, who took his Shrewsbury side to Portugal last summer, added: “There were a few smiles on faces when I told the players we’d be going to Spain, but I don’t know if that will be the case when we get back.

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“We’ll be doing triple sessions while we are over there, so it’s certainly not a case of taking the sun tan lotion and the sun glasses.

“The place we are going to has got excellent facilities, but more importantly it’s a change of scenery. I know we are only just back in, but we will spend a hell of a lot of time here (at Playford Road) over the next few months.

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“I think it’s great for bonding and building relationships to be away. The lads know each other, but they don’t know us as staff yet. I think this trip will be really key for that.”

Upon their return, Town will play friendlies against Braintree, Crawley, Barnet, MK Dons (all away) and West Ham (home).

East Anglian Daily Times: New Blues boss Paul Hurst outlined his transfer plans yesterday. Photo: Ross HallsNew Blues boss Paul Hurst outlined his transfer plans yesterday. Photo: Ross Halls (Image: Archant)