In a surprising turn of events, Paul Hurst is making his return to Boston United as their manager nearly 15 years after he originally left the club. This significant development comes as Hurst steps in to fill the role vacated by Graham Coughlan.
At the age of 51, Hurst is no stranger to the world of football management. He previously served as co-manager of Boston United alongside Rob Scott before they both decided to resign in order to take managerial positions at Grimsby Town back in 2011, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their careers.
Following his departure from Boston, Hurst's journey took him through various clubs, including Ipswich Town and Scunthorpe United. He enjoyed multiple stints at Grimsby and Shrewsbury Town, with his latest tenure at Shrewsbury ending in November 2024 after a nine-month period.
Expressing his joy over Hurst's return, Boston's chairman David Newton shared his excitement while also acknowledging that some fans might recall the way Hurst and Scott parted ways with the club more than a decade ago. "I had no issue with their ambition to manage at a higher level – but did not feel that it was done in the correct manner," Newton stated on the club’s official website. He noted, "The matter was dealt with at the time – and the club received the right compensation for their move. That drew a line under things for me, and I was delighted when Paul continued to bring teams over for pre-season fixtures, and we have kept in touch ever since."
During their initial time with Boston, Hurst and Scott led the team to promotion to what is now referred to as the National League North. When they left, the team was sitting comfortably in second place within the division.
Now, as Hurst returns to Lincolnshire, he takes charge of a Boston United squad currently positioned 17th in the league, only four spots and three points clear of the relegation zone. The decision to part ways with Coughlan came after a disappointing five-match winless streak, culminating in a goalless draw against Braintree Town last Saturday. Following this, Coughlan's assistant, Lee Bullen, also exited the club, prompting Hurst to appoint Chris Doig as his right-hand man.
Newton emphasized the significance of this appointment, stating, "This is a key appointment for the club as we seek to not only cement our place in the National League but hopefully build on that going forward." With Hurst back in the fold, there is hope and anticipation surrounding the future direction of Boston United.
