Blues midfielder Cole Skuse believes there are exciting times ahead at Portman Road under new manager Paul Hurst, Town having announced that the 43-year-old had signed a three-year deal along with his Shrewsbury assistant Chris Doig earlier today.

“It’s a great appointment, brilliant for the club,” Skuse told BBC Radio Suffolk at the Suffolk Show this morning seconds after being told Hurst was his new boss by MD Ian Milne. “It’s been doing the rounds for a couple of weeks but nice to get it done.

“I’ve not come across him, but his CV speaks for itself, I think. He’s very highly thought of within the football world, he’s had three or four promotions.

“I saw the Shrewsbury game at the weekend, they were unlucky not to get a result and he seems as if he conducts himself very well. He comes across very well, so exciting times ahead.”

Skuse, 32, admits it’s been an unsettling spell for the squad since the March announcement that former boss Mick McCarthy would be moving on in the summer and then his earlier than anticipated exit last month.

“The air of uncertainty, not just among players but also among fans is a strange situation to be in,” the Bristolian reflected.

“So to get something confirmed today is good for everyone, to know who is in charge, to try and figure out what he’s about and it’ll be interesting to see what he’s like in pre-season.”

He added: “It is a fresh start. Mick did a great job for five years at the club and a lot of players would thank him massively for that, and he did do a fantastic job.

“But, like I say, it’s a fresh start, it’s a clean slate for everyone. He’s inherited what’s definitely not a broken squad, he’s inherited a very, very good squad. Once everyone’s back fit and fully flying it’s a great squad.

“So, it’s exciting times, pre-season is going to be interesting, it’s a different pre-season for everyone, we’ve had the same pre-season for five years, it’s going to be a fresh start for everyone.”

Skuse says the squad which is currently due to return to Playford Road for the start of pre-season training on June 22nd is very united.

“When Mick left, we had Bryan [Klug], Chris [Hogg] and Nashy [Gerard Nash] in charge and you could see a real togetherness there, the group really came together, it was really tight.

“We’ve got some very good characters in the dressing room, that’s a credit to the previous gaffer, he signed the right personnel.

“Obviously, you had to be very good at football, but you had to be a very good character to fit into the dressing room.

“[A bad apple] can upset everyone. We’ve got a great dressing room, great personnel and the new manager is inheriting a very good squad and a very good dressing room.”

Photo: TWTD

TimmyH added 18:43 - May 30 Getting his tongue between Hurst's cheeks already...concentrate on getting better Cole.
-8

jas0999 added 18:54 - May 30 I personally think we need an injection of new blood into the squad. It's very thin. Bart and Waghorn are the two standout players and the squad built around them. Then as Floridaboy highlights we have two excellent youngsters in Nydam and Dozzell. But then there is a problem. Huws and Webster are certainly good enough. But miss more games injured than they play. Can't rely on them. Chambers, Skuse are reliable, but not as good as they were. Knudsen is average, ditto Ward and others. Not convinced by Garner. No doubt the new manager will want to bring in his own players, but there is a basis of a squad to build around, but little doubt new players 100% required.

7

Swn98 added 19:32 - May 30 As i've told you many times bluebore you think that your opinion is fact which it isn't perhaps if you changed this stance we might be able to have a sensible conversation. Good luck Mr Hurst i shall be sitting in my seat as usual cheering the team and you on and guess what if things go pear shaped i will still support you and the team wonder if that will be the case for factual bluebore and his cronies

0

Seasider added 19:41 - May 30 I thought Cole Skuse played better at the tail end of last season when the restrictions he played under with Mick were lifted somewhat . Having said that i didn't like McCarthy making it clear that Skusey plus one or two others were shoo ins regardless.Hopefully that wil now change;and if a player comes in and does well he keeps his place
2

Seasider added 19:41 - May 30 I thought Cole Skuse played better at the tail end of last season when the restrictions he played under with Mick were lifted somewhat . Having said that i didn't like McCarthy making it clear that Skusey plus one or two others were shoo ins regardless.Hopefully that wil now change;and if a player comes in and does well he keeps his place
0

Seasider added 19:41 - May 30 I thought Cole Skuse played better at the tail end of last season when the restrictions he played under with Mick were lifted somewhat . Having said that i didn't like McCarthy making it clear that Skusey plus one or two others were shoo ins regardless.Hopefully that wil now change;and if a player comes in and does well he keeps his place
-2

Ploarbear1 added 07:08 - May 31 "We've had the same pre-season for five years, it's going to be a fresh start for everyone." Sense that pre-season had gotten a little stale? Same trip across to Ireland every time. Fresh pre-season with fresh ideas could be absolutely key to starting the season off right under Hurst.
1

Fat_Boy_Tim added 07:23 - May 31 If our pre-season was so stale after 5 years, how did we get off to such a flyer (even with no defenders) at the start of MM's last season? If it ain't broke... I would say that PH has more important things to worry about. All that said, we might have a game against West Ham in the pipeline, that'll be something to focus minds.
1

bobble added 07:56 - May 31 first thing that he should do is make bart the captain...
0

Cheshire_Blue added 09:46 - May 31 How many times did Shrewsbury play a system with one up front last season? The answer might disappoint a few of you. Time will tell.
-1

Blogs 297 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls