Shrewsbury chief executive Brian Caldwell says ‘it’s inevitable’ that clubs like Ipswich Town will show interest in Shrews’ boss Paul Hurst – and hopes he gets ‘the right job’ offered to him.

Hurst, 43, is the current betting favourite for the vacant hotseat at Portman Road, and we understand he is very much in the frame to replace Mick McCarthy.

It comes as Hurst has guided the unfancied Shrews to a surprise third place in League One, pushing the bigger-budget Blackburn and Wigan all the way.

Town owner Marcus Evans said last week he plans to appoint a new boss by early June at the latest, adding that managerial changes at the end of the season may alter his thinking.

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Hurst, of course, will be involved in the League One play-offs with the Shrews, with the final at Wembley on Sunday May 27 should his side get that far.

“There is nothing we can do,” Caldwell told the Shropshire Star. “It is down to the success we’ve had this season and last since he’s come here.

“He’s really kicked the club on. I think it’s inevitable, because of the success he’s had, he’s going to get linked with other jobs, we appreciate and understand that.

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“As long as we’re all honest with each other, I’d suggest there will be a time when Paul will get the right job offered to him. I’m not saying it’s just now and we want that to be as long in the future as possible.

“If you’ve not got an ambitious manager who wants to go on and do better and better all of the time then you won’t succeed. It’s inevitable the success that he’ll get linked with most jobs. It’s like ‘here we go again’.”

Hurst also led Grimsby back into the Football League via the play-offs in 2015/16.