Paul Hurst hopes Shrewsbury Town supporters can see why he left
Paul Hurst hopes Shrewsbury Town fans understand his decision to leave for Ipswich – and says he would have done even if Salop gained promotion.
Hurst spearheaded a remarkable season for Town, finishing third in League One before coming up short in the play-off final at Wembley.
They also reached the Checkatrade Trophy final.
Speaking at his official unveiling as Tractor Boys boss, Hurst said: "I hope that they can understand. I think they were a very fair group of fans, who I got on well with.
"For some, that will have been soured but I hope many understand my decision.
"We had a fantastic turnaround at that club – we were in dreamland for a lot of last season.
"It was a gruelling season, a very enjoyable one, without the ending that we wanted."
When asked if things would have turned out this way had Salop gone up, Hurst said: "Ultimately, this football club, the history and the potential, it would have been a very difficult decision to turn this opportunity down.
"I'm very excited about working with the group of players that are here."
Hurst also took assistant Chris Doig with him to the Championship side.
He added: "I hope, in a cup game or anything like that, I'd get a decent ovation but I know that it's football and that's not always how people think."
