Comment: Interest in Shrewsbury Town boss Paul Hurst is no surprise

Changing Salop from relegation contenders to League One pacesetters has, naturally, got people in the game talking and paying attention to goings-on at the Montgomery Waters Meadow.

So when free-falling Championship side Sunderland got rid of Simon Grayson on Tuesday night, just 17 minutes after a 3-3 draw with Bolton Wanderers, it was only a matter of time before Hurst was linked with the vacant manager’s job there.

Speculation started on Thursday morning when Sky Sports presenter Tom White put out a Tweet that ‘sources’ indicated Hurst was interested in the post at the Stadium of Light.

Hurst, while not completely rubbishing that report, then declared ‘I have a job to do here’ that afternoon and insisted his focus was solely on today’s FA Cup first round clash against Aldershot Town.

He may not have said ‘I am going nowhere’, but he did not have to – he did not disrespect the Black Cats and managed to quash any worries of him making the move.

The 43-year-old was professional, saying he takes the interest as a ‘compliment’ and highlighted his ‘ambition’ to manage at the highest level possible.

Hurst also commended his players, insisting they are being taken notice of just as much as him.

He is a class act and Sunderland will not be the last club he is linked with.

The further Town’s fine form goes on, the more speculation will surround Hurst’s future.

After all, the former Rotherham United defender ticks a lot of boxes.

He had an extensive career as a player so is well aware of the needs of the individuals he has at his disposal, has experienced the rough and tumble of non-league as a boss and has a track record of developing relatively unknown players into standout stars.

And all of the Salop players speak very highly of Hurst.

They know if they have a problem, they can speak to him – he is friendly and there are no airs and graces about him.

Matchday captain Abu Ogogo is just one of several players to come out and praise the boss in recent weeks.

He said: “He’s a great man. He’s come in and done a great job as you can see.

“You can talk to him about personal stuff outside of football, not just football, he’s very approachable, you can talk to him about anything.

“He’s a very good bloke and wants to make the boys go out there and work hard for him and get wins.”

And whether he is the best manager he has worked under, Ogogo added: “He’s definitely up there. Definitely, 100 per cent.

“As a manager he’s come in and improved me as a player.”

One of the things Hurst has done at the training ground to boost morale is introduce a shirt – the old ‘scrambled egg’ Salop home shirt from the early 1990s – which the worst trainer on a Friday has to wear for the following week.

According to Ogogo, it never gets washed.

It is not all laughing and joking though, they all know when the time is right to be switched on and serious.

Hurst’s man-management skills, tactical nous and vast analysis of various situations have all served him very well in his time as Town chief so far.

And the biggest attraction for clubs looking for a new chief will be that he very much has time on his side.

He has been in management for almost a decade, and could easily be in it for two more – maybe staying at Salop.