‘I’ve got a clear thought of who I want’ – Hurst will take hands-on role with recruitment

New Blues boss Paul Hurst outlined his transfer plans yesterday. Photo: Ross Halls (Image: Archant)

The new Blues boss is closing in on his first addition in the form of a season-long loan for Chelsea and England Under-19 starlet Trevoh Chalobah.

Having already outlined his desire to add two wingers to an ‘imbalanced’ squad at his first press conference, the former Shrewsbury manager revealed this morning that a striker to replace David McGoldrick (contract expired) and further competition for centre-backs Luke Chambers and Adam Webster is on his agenda.

“You’ve got that spot on,” he said, when the above was put to him ahead of the players’ first day of pre-season training.

“Targets have been passed over. The owner (Marcus Evans) knows what I want to do and we’re working hard behind the scenes to bring people in as soon as possible.

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“When you move up the levels then maybe things don’t happen quite as quickly in general. I don’t think there has been that much activity, in truth, across the Championship. Yes there’s been some signings, of course, but not too many.

“We have to be patient and I have to remind myself of that as well. I’m sure there will be some new players for everyone to look forward to.”

With Town linked to Blackpool centre-back Curtis Tilt and former Colchester full-back Kane Vincent-Young, Hurst was asked where he would like to recruit from.

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“It doesn’t matter as long as they are good players,” he said. “If that’s from lower down then that’s fine by me. If it’s from higher up then so be it. I think it would be foolish to put a parameter on things and stop us from signing someone who could do a really good job for us.”

Dave Bowman, someone who worked with Mick McCarthy at both Sunderland and Wolves, remains in is role as Town’s director of football (essentially chief scout).

Asked if Bowman will continue to play a key role in transfers, Hurst said: “We’d spoken already and then I met Dave last Monday. He’s due in again on Wednesday. We’ll sit down and go through recruitment.

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“I don’t know how things have worked in the past. From my point of view I am very keen on player recruitment. I spend a lot of time looking at players and I’ve got a clear thought of who I would like to bring to the football club.

“That doesn’t mean I’m not going to listen to what Dave says. Dave has got some great contacts, that’s become very obvious very quickly, so it would be foolish not to use him and have him working with us.

“I do take a lot of that on myself though. Maybe that’s where I’ve come from and what I’m used to doing and I don’t really see that changing.”

Asked if there was a possibility of the recently released Mustapaha Carayol returning given his desire to sign wingers, Hurst said: “ No, there’s been no conversations regarding him.

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“In all honesty I have got my own targets in mind. He fits the bill in a lot of ways, and never say never, but we’re just looking to freshen things up. At the minute I’ve got other players in mind.”

Having inevitably been linked to two of his former Shrewsbury stars – midfielder Jon Nolan and defender Toto Nsiala – Hurst was asked if there was anything in that speculation.

“Not really, no,” he said. “I think those players will be closely guarded, shall we say. Whether anything happens for those lads, we’ll see.

“Clearly there are some good players that I have left behind there. They had an excellent season and will be looking to repeat that.”