Shrewsbury sack head coach Hurst

Paul Hurst won six of his 37 games in charge of his second stint at Shrewsbury Town

Shrewsbury Town have sacked head coach Paul Hurst after nine months in charge.

Hurst was in his second spell at the League One club but has been dismissed after a run of just one win in their past 12 games in all competitions, culminating in Saturday's FA Cup defeat by League Two Salford City.

The 50-year-old leaves Shrewsbury second from bottom of League One having lost their past three EFL games without scoring a goal.

Hurst was re-appointed as manager in January 2024 having previously led the club to the League One play-off final in 2018 where they were beaten by Rotherham United and an EFL Trophy final which they lost to Lincoln.

"It is with regret that Shrewsbury Town can confirm we have parted company with head coach Paul Hurst and assistant boss Chris Doig," Shrewsbury announced in a club statement.

The decision came after an emergency board meeting held by the club on Sunday morning, during which chairman Roland Wycherley offered his resignation.

"This morning, at our emergency Board meeting, I offered my immediate resignation as chairman," he said in a later statement.

"This was rejected by the board as despite all the positive changes we are making to reduce the losses - without my current financial support - we would not be able to continue to fulfil our commitments."

Hurst initially kept Shrewsbury clear of relegation from League One last season as they finished four points above the drop zone.

But this season the Shropshire club have managed just two league victories and lost 14 of their 19 matches in all competitions.

Shrewsbury's next League One match is away at rock bottom Burton Albion on Saturday, 9 November.

Analysis - BBC Radio Shropshire sports editor Nick Southall:

Shrewsbury Town’s patience with head coach Paul Hurst and his assistant Chris Doig finally ran out after the FA Cup defeat at Salford.

An emergency board meeting was held on Sunday morning and that is when the decision was made to part company with the duo.

It would have been an agonising decision for chairman Roland Wycherley who is very close to Hurst and brought him back to the club after his previous stint in the 2017-18 season led Town to the League One play-off final, losing out to Rotherham United.

His second spell at Shrewsbury did not fare as well, albeit in very different circumstances.

Hurst was working under director of football Micky Moore, not as a stand-alone manager in his own right.

There is no doubting Hurst’s credentials and the fans will long remember the halcyon days under his stewardship.

Unfortunately, the old adage ‘never go back’ seems true in this instance.