CITY have drawn up a shortlist for the manager’s job – as Paul Hurst was tipped as the man to reverse the club’s fortunes.

The Telegraph & Argus understands the list of applicants has been whittled down to the final few, although no decision is expected to be made over the weekend.

Paul Hurst is one of those believed to have held talks over the Valley Parade vacancy as he looks to get back into the game after an 11-month absence.

The 46-year-old was sacked by Scunthorpe after a breakdown of the relationship with chairman Peter Swann at the end of January – 12 days after the Iron had come from two down to draw at Valley Parade.

He had been in charge for only nine months following an even briefer stint at Ipswich – where his five-month spell in the hot-seat was the shortest in the club’s history.

But Hurst had previously enjoyed success in bringing Grimsby back into the league and then transforming Shrewsbury.

In two seasons with the Shrews, he turned them from relegation contenders into League One play-off finalists after finishing third.

“After what he did here, it’s been such a shame that his next jobs did not go his way,” said Lewis Cox, the Shrewsbury Town reporter for the Shropshire Star. “He did wonders for Shewsbury.

“Hursty came in and steered a real relegation-fearing squad to safety, which was a massive job. They were bottom and really in the mire when he came in.

“He got them comfortably to safety with some inspired January signings from the contacts he’d had from working in the levels below. Two or three came in and played a big part in getting Shrewsbury out of trouble.

“He’s the type of manager who will go in and sort everything, get them organised and get them fit.

“If it’s been all over the place with formations and selections, he will simplify it in a good way. It’s almost back to basics.

“At Shrewsbury, he stuck in two natural wingers either side of two centre forwards, which really got the fans onside, and the following season they went all the way to the play-off final.

“The loans he brought to Shrewsbury speak for themselves – Dean Henderson, Ben Godfrey and Carlton Morris, who’s now doing well at MK Dons.

“He also had a really good understanding of the under-23s around the country and the youngsters to go for.”

City are mindful of getting the new man settled in place ahead of the transfer window – where they must look to strengthen a squad currently two points off the bottom of League Two.

But they have made it clear from the outset that the process to replace Stuart McCall would take as long as required.

Hurst is very keen to return to management and was last month linked with a return to Shrewsbury.

“I know he wants his next job to be at a club where he’s got a good working relationship with the people in charge,” added Cox.

“Him and his assistant Chris Doig thought the team were on the way up at Scunny but felt it was such a circus off the pitch.

“Some people might have thought that what Hursty did at Shrewsbury was a fluke. But keeping them up and then getting to Wembley was two flukes – and that doesn’t happen.”