Grimsby Town’s search for a new manager could see a familiar face return to the Blundell Park dugout.

Sources close to ex-Mariners’ manager Paul Hurst suggest he could be set for a sensational return to the club who he steered to promotion from the National League in 2016.

Despite the continued upheaval off the field in terms of the club’s ownership, it is understood the Grimsby Town Board are keen to appoint a new manager quickly, to give the Mariners the best possible opportunity of avoiding a return to non league, and the chance to recruit sufficiently in the January Transfer Window.

Hurst is out of work following his departure from rivals Scunthorpe United in January this year.

He has been strongly courted by Town’s League Two rivals Bradford City but the Town Board have moved quickly to try and secure a manager who is well aware of the setup at Blundell Park, and familiar with some of the Mariners’ playing squad.

Hurst left Blundell Park after six years at the helm in October 2016 to join League One Shrewsbury Town. A lack of investment in the backroom staff and facilities was cited as the major reason for the 46-year-old’s departure.

The Yorkshireman went onto enjoy great success with the Shrews, steering them away from the League One drop zone within months of his appointment, and then guiding them to both the EFL Trophy and League One Play Off Final the following season.

In the summer of 2018, Hurst moved onto Ipswich Town in the Championship but was unable to replicate his success there. He was appointed Iron boss at the end of the 2018/19 season.

It is believed that the Mariners have already had one offer for Hurst rebuffed, in the wake of uncertainty around the ownership at Blundell Park, but the Board remains determined to have their man in place by the time the side entertain Cambridge United on Saturday 2 January.