‘It’s a totally different animal’ - Beattie excited to see Ipswich boss Hurst step up to Championship
Kevin Beattie is excited to see what Paul Hurst can do at Portman Road. Picture; STEVE WALLER - Credit: Picture: Steve Waller
Ipswich Town legend Kevin Beattie is excited to see what new manager Paul Hurst can do as he steps up to manage in the Championship for the first time.
Paul Hurst officially started work as Ipswich Town manager last Monday. Photo: Steve Waller - Credit: Picture: Steve Waller
Hurst was appointed Blues boss at the end of May as a replacement for Mick McCarthy, having previously won promotion from the National League with Grimsby and taken Shrewsbury to last season’s League One play-off final.
Hurst will discover the fixture list for his first Championship season with Ipswich at 9am tomorrow morning, with Beattie believing the division will present some challenges Hurst has not encountered before.
“Hopefully the fans will get behind him and I’m sure they will give him time because he is a new manager,” Beattie said.
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“He’s got to learn about the Championship, having been in the lower divisions, because it’s a totally different animal.
“He’s got to get it right and I’m sure he will do that in training, that’s what this summer and pre-season is for.
“Just look at some of the teams in there at the minute, it’s certainly not a walk in the park. It’s difficult and you always get some teams stand out like Brighton did a few years ago.
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“You have to be on it in this division.”
Beattie is excited by the appointment of Hurst and believes the new manager has given the Ipswich fans something to shout about as the club prepares for its 17th-consecutive Championship campaign.
“He’s got youth, he’s done well in the lower leagues and I’m impressed with what we’ve seen so far,” said the former defender.
“They must have vetted him very, very well because we are a big club and it takes someone special to manage it. If you go back to Sir Alf (Ramsey), Sir Bobby (Robson), George (Burley) and Joe Royle you can see it has taken some big names to do it.
“Paul has a great chance. I’m sure he’s done his homework on the club and he will understand what it is all about.
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“I’ve not met him yet but I’m really looking forward to it because he seems like a good man with a good record. He’s brought some players through and it’s exciting for the club again. I’m pleased for the fans because they really should be up for this now.
“There’s no real pressure on him because he’s a new manager, although of course you do need to get results.”
New Blues boss Paul Hurst knows he may need to be patient in the transfer market. Picture: STEVE WALLER - Credit: Picture: Steve Waller
Kevin Beattie is excited to see what Hurst can do at Portman Road. Picture: Archant - Credit: Archant
