Retained list

Quoted from chaos33

What point is the ironically named ‘canny lad’ trying to make, because I’m not seeing it….?

And, he’s on here, so has an internet connection. Could’ve answered his own question anyway, but like so many these days, lazily asks others to do the fetching and carrying for them.

There is no point to be made. It’s just an arbitrary number. It could have been less, it could have been more. The facts are that despite a sticky first few months in the job, which has since been mitigated and then some, with whatever number of signings he may have made Hurst has:

a) Delivered promotion back into the EFL at the first attempt, ahead of clubs with greater resources

b) Been chiefly responsible for record season ticket sales (beating the previous record by something daft like 60%)

c) Delivered the highest league finish since 2006 - some 17 years

That’s the long and the short of it. There are imperfections, yes; our home form this season has been anything but perfect. But as an unfashionable old football club in a provincial northern town, you have to take the rough with the smooth, and things have been as smooth as I can remember for many, many a year.

Hurst has done a remarkable job on the whole. Life’s all about opinions, but I would absolutely question the grip on reality that anyone who would seek to challenge that summation of his performance has.

My greatest fear for next season isn’t whether Hurst can have us pushing hard at the right end of the table; in spite of a tough looking division next season I have full confidence that he will. My fear is that we might not be able to keep him long enough to complete the job. Make no mistake, if we are north of 8th position past the midway point of next season, there will be no shortage of clubs asking for his services.

I normally find the one's i've never heard off, are the better signings.

i remember some 'high profile' signings like Brodie not going great

Quoted from Poojah

There is no point to be made. It’s just an arbitrary number. It could have been less, it could have been more. The facts are that despite a sticky first few months in the job, which has since been mitigated and then some, with whatever number of signings he may have made Hurst has:

a) Delivered promotion back into the EFL at the first attempt, ahead of clubs with greater resources

b) Been chiefly responsible for record season ticket sales (beating the previous record by something daft like 60%)

c) Delivered the highest league finish since 2006 - some 17 years

That’s the long and the short of it. There are imperfections, yes; our home form this season has been anything but perfect. But as an unfashionable old football club in a provincial northern town, you have to take the rough with the smooth, and things have been as smooth as I can remember for many, many a year.

Hurst has done a remarkable job on the whole. Life’s all about opinions, but I would absolutely question the grip on reality that anyone who would seek to challenge that summation of his performance has.

My greatest fear for next season isn’t whether Hurst can have us pushing hard at the right end of the table; in spite of a tough looking division next season I have full confidence that he will. My fear is that we might not be able to keep him long enough to complete the job. Make no mistake, if we are north of 8th position past the midway point of next season, there will be no shortage of clubs asking for his services.

I honestly believe in the depths of my heart and trust me you have to go a long way to find it, that Paul would only leave us for one club and that be Rotherham. I've had quite a few chats with him casually and professionally. He is as straight and honest as they come and it's easy to see why players love playing for him. I believe he's 100% backed by Jason and Andrew and is very much very happy in his current climate that the only thing that would be able to tempt him away would be his boyhood club. I don't see him leaving for a Shrewsbury this time around.

Quoted from LocalLadGTFC

I honestly believe in the depths of my heart and trust me you have to go a long way to find it, that Paul would only leave us for one club and that be Rotherham. I've had quite a few chats with him casually and professionally. He is as straight and honest as they come and it's easy to see why players love playing for him. I believe he's 100% backed by Jason and Andrew and is very much very happy in his current climate that the only thing that would be able to tempt him away would be his boyhood club. I don't see him leaving for a Shrewsbury this time around.

Looking from a distance I'd agree with this, there maybe another club that would tempt him and that's Wednesday as I believe he has been a supporter since he was a kid.

I've spoken to him briefly a couple of times and also found him very polite happy to have a quick chat and just seems like a decent bloke.

Quoted from Poojah

There is no point to be made. It’s just an arbitrary number. It could have been less, it could have been more. The facts are that despite a sticky first few months in the job, which has since been mitigated and then some, with whatever number of signings he may have made Hurst has:

a) Delivered promotion back into the EFL at the first attempt, ahead of clubs with greater resources

b) Been chiefly responsible for record season ticket sales (beating the previous record by something daft like 60%)

c) Delivered the highest league finish since 2006 - some 17 years

That’s the long and the short of it. There are imperfections, yes; our home form this season has been anything but perfect. But as an unfashionable old football club in a provincial northern town, you have to take the rough with the smooth, and things have been as smooth as I can remember for many, many a year.

Hurst has done a remarkable job on the whole. Life’s all about opinions, but I would absolutely question the grip on reality that anyone who would seek to challenge that summation of his performance has.

My greatest fear for next season isn’t whether Hurst can have us pushing hard at the right end of the table; in spite of a tough looking division next season I have full confidence that he will. My fear is that we might not be able to keep him long enough to complete the job. Make no mistake, if we are north of 8th position past the midway point of next season, there will be no shortage of clubs asking for his services.

I can't see Hurst leaving. He has football eutopia, football matters are at his sole discretion, and the owners leave him alone to get on with the job and do not interfere. The club is on the up and a new training ground is on the cards. Many things are now different to the last time he was manager under the Fenty ownership.

Nah.

Whilst he might be more cautious in the clubs that he would consider going for, he's still got ambition and he's still young.  

We've got a ceiling, as have all clubs.  At the minute ours is quite low because we're constrained by our relative size and ability to increase income to match others.  If a club with greater potential and an ethos that matches that of Hurst, he would be a fool to not seriously consider it.

On the flip side of it, 1878 aren't mugs.  They've stuck with Hurst because they see him as part of the bigger picture.  Inevitably there will be a point in time that their vision doesn't include him.  They've shown they're not frightened of a ruthless approach when it comes to staff, don't be fooled that they won't take the same approach with Hurst if needed.

Quoted from Poojah

There is no point to be made. It’s just an arbitrary number. It could have been less, it could have been more. The facts are that despite a sticky first few months in the job, which has since been mitigated and then some, with whatever number of signings he may have made Hurst has:

a) Delivered promotion back into the EFL at the first attempt, ahead of clubs with greater resources

b) Been chiefly responsible for record season ticket sales (beating the previous record by something daft like 60%)

c) Delivered the highest league finish since 2006 - some 17 years

That’s the long and the short of it. There are imperfections, yes; our home form this season has been anything but perfect. But as an unfashionable old football club in a provincial northern town, you have to take the rough with the smooth, and things have been as smooth as I can remember for many, many a year.

Hurst has done a remarkable job on the whole. Life’s all about opinions, but I would absolutely question the grip on reality that anyone who would seek to challenge that summation of his performance has.

My greatest fear for next season isn’t whether Hurst can have us pushing hard at the right end of the table; in spite of a tough looking division next season I have full confidence that he will. My fear is that we might not be able to keep him long enough to complete the job. Make no mistake, if we are north of 8th position past the midway point of next season, there will be no shortage of clubs asking for his services.

Think it would take something pretty special to tempt him away and, by that, I mean Sheffield Wednesday come calling.

I also completely agree that people need a reality check if they don't think the last 12 months has been anything short of remarkable and I would remain incredibly reluctant to dispense with him, even if the start to next season is iffy, as he has shown time and again that he can turn it around if things aren't going great. There will not be a manager who is markedly better than Hurst available a L2 club next season.

Hartlepool's list is out and Jamie Sterry has been released, definitely worth a look/punt.

Quoted from Poojah

There is no point to be made. It’s just an arbitrary number. It could have been less, it could have been more. The facts are that despite a sticky first few months in the job, which has since been mitigated and then some, with whatever number of signings he may have made Hurst has:

a) Delivered promotion back into the EFL at the first attempt, ahead of clubs with greater resources

b) Been chiefly responsible for record season ticket sales (beating the previous record by something daft like 60%)

c) Delivered the highest league finish since 2006 - some 17 years

That’s the long and the short of it. There are imperfections, yes; our home form this season has been anything but perfect. But as an unfashionable old football club in a provincial northern town, you have to take the rough with the smooth, and things have been as smooth as I can remember for many, many a year.

Hurst has done a remarkable job on the whole. Life’s all about opinions, but I would absolutely question the grip on reality that anyone who would seek to challenge that summation of his performance has.

My greatest fear for next season isn’t whether Hurst can have us pushing hard at the right end of the table; in spite of a tough looking division next season I have full confidence that he will. My fear is that we might not be able to keep him long enough to complete the job. Make no mistake, if we are north of 8th position past the midway point of next season, there will be no shortage of clubs asking for his services.

D) FA Cup run and associated income.

I’m a big PH fan..and don’t see him going anywhere yet..but also agree with Poojah’s thoughts in that if an opportunity arises he’d consider it. For that to occur Town need to be up there in top 7/8 at Christmas, you could argue that is what we should be looking to achieve ourselves anyway.

  Hurst has done a cracking job here, and whilst acknowledging the views of some about the home form and ‘methods’ - there were some factors behind those that we shouldn’t have this time around. Hurst has said numerous times he knows the areas we need to improve, and identified the types of players he wants - I’ve a gut feeling there’ll be a more positive intent and he’ll introduce a bit of creativity mixed with a stronger midfield physically, and maybe the centre forward (though I’m not convinced it’ll be - or need to be - someone knocking in 15 a season or more) ..he’s always set his sides up defensively minded, and hard working/organised - rightly so imho - and numerous other clubs commented and complimented us on that front - but I’ve a feeling Hurst may acknowledge you need a bit more to progress.

Funny thing is football though..and the way everyone views things differently..another view could be Hurst has been back 3 years now (or thereabouts) and that is quite a lengthy spell in managerial terms. It could be we reach a plateau and he moves on, or it could be he and we continue to progress. I hope it’s the latter - but it wouldn’t be the greatest shock in the world if next season was his last here.