Former Miller Paul Hurst waiting for reunion at Wembley

There will be two former Rotherham United team-mates in charge of the League One play-off finalists whoever wins tonight's encounter at the New York Stadium.
Scunthorpe manager Nick Daws: In his playing days for Rotherham.Scunthorpe manager Nick Daws: In his playing days for Rotherham.
Scunthorpe manager Nick Daws: In his playing days for Rotherham.

Scunthorpe caretaker manager Nick Daws, yet to lose a game at the helm, and his Millers and Shrewsbury counterparts Paul Warne and Paul Hurst all played together for Rotherham.

Daws played for the Millers between 2001 and 2005, Warne enjoyed two spells, from 1999-2005 and from 2009-2012, and Hurst – whose Shrewsbury side are already through to the final – made almost 450 appearances between 1993 and 2008.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Daws, who stepped up as caretaker for a second spell with the Iron in March after the sacking of Graham Alexander, has a worry over Matt Gilks.

Scunthorpe’s goalkeeper limped out of Saturday’s first leg with a knee injury and is a serious doubt, with rookie deputy Rory Watson on standby.

“We are not sure about Matt at this stage, but I am not going to hide the fact he is a doubt,” said Daws, who is assisted by youth team coach and former Hull City defender Andy Dawson.

“Matt came off with a knee injury, has been having treatment for the last 48 hours and we will be keeping our fingers crossed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“If he is not fit then Rory is a more than able deputy and I have got every confidence in him. Either way we will go and try and win the game.

“We have got the team imprinted in how we’re probably going to go. We will take a really considered approach in what we do in the 90 minutes plus.”

Counterpart Warne will check on several of his Millers squad who picked up knocks at Glanford Park, where wide player Jon Taylor, who opened the scoring in the first leg, came off with a dead leg.

Shrewsbury chief Hurst, who was appointed manager in 2016 when the club were bottom of League One, felt his side were full value for their 2-0 aggregate victory over Charlton Athletic.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Shrews can look forward to a quick return to Wembley on Sunday, May 27, having lost to Lincoln City in the Checkatrade Trophy final last month.

“Overall I don’t think there’s any doubt that the best team over the two games went through,” said Sheffield-born Hurst of the semi-final triumph over Charlton.

“There’s certainly a realisation straight away that we’ve got one more game to go before we can really celebrate, if it’s meant to be.”