Shrewsbury motivated to prove doubters wrong - Hurst

Paul Hurst took Shrewsbury to the League One play-off final in 2018 before leaving for Ipswich Town

Shrewsbury Town boss Paul Hurst and new captain Carl Winchester say they are both motivated by being written off as League One relegation favourites.

After finishing last season 19th, head coach Hurst's side start the new campaign at Stevenage on Saturday teatime being tipped by bookmakers as the second likeliest side to get relegated - with Town also scorned on social media.

But Hurst, who returned to the club in January for his second spell in charge, told BBC Radio Shropshire: “Ultimately we’ve got to use that as a bit of motivation.

"It’s something I’m very comfortable with in terms of the way I view this job.

"On a personal note, in my sort of career, I’m happy to have that tag. It’s not an issue," said the 49-year-old former Grimsby Town, Ipswich Town and Scunthorpe United boss.

"From everything I’ve read, or every prediction I’ve seen, there is no-one who has not tipped us to get relegated.

"So it would be nice for people to have something different to write come the end of the season.”

Shrewsbury have made 11 summer signings - three of them from Bristol Rovers, midfielder Jordan Rossiter, defender Luca Hoole and striker John Marquis.

Town have also signed two keepers, Toby Savin and Joe Young, two strikers, JJ Kayode and George Lloyd, and brought defender Toto Nsiala back to the club.

Another midfielder Harrison Biggins, has arrived as well as Aston Villa youngsters Tommi O'Reilly and Josh Feeney, both on season-long loans.

But it is one of their existing squad, midfielder Winchester, who got the nod to replace the departed Chey Dunkley as captain - and he is in full agreement with Hurst.

"All over social media we’re one of the favourites to go down so it's just having that underdog mentality every week.

"The lads had a meeting about it and we said 'look, no-one's giving us a chance, and that's before a ball's even been kicked.

"So it's about going out there and proving everyone wrong. Make sure your standards are good in training every day, apply that to the Saturday and we’ll be fine.”

This is Shrewsbury's 10th straight season in League One, after being promoted under Mickey Mellon's watch in 2015.

New captain Carl Winchester has now made 89 appearances in a Shrewsbury shirt after initially arriving on loan from Sunderland on August transfer deadline day 2022

Analysis - BBC Radio Shropshire's Nick Southall on Shrewsbury's hopes for 2024-25

This has been another summer of considerable change in the Shrewsbury playing squad.

Some of Town's high performers like Marko Marosi, Dan Udoh and Chey Dunkley have moved on to pastures new and it's thrown a strong focus on those replacing them.

Initial signs are positive. A good pre-season campaign has pleased the Town faithful and the introductions of Aston Villa youngster Tommi O'Reilly and Bristol Rovers striker John Marquis certainly add quality.

Their aim once again will be to sustain League One football for another year.

There's no doubt the division is more competitive compared with last season but boss Paul Hurst appears to have had a good summer so far and he'll want to maintain that momentum at Stevenage on the opening day.

You can follow every twist and turn on BBC Radio Shropshire with every game live on 96FM.