GRIMSBY Town's joint bosses are facing a busier than expected transfer deadline day after Saturday's dismal defeat to Nuneaton.
The Mariners lost 2-1 at Blundell Park after Gavin Cowan and Andrew Brown both plundered goals amid a dire first-half performance from the hosts.
And as things went from bad to worse, Aswad Thomas was shown a straight red card for needlessly kicking out at Wes York just before half-time.
In Pictures: Grimsby Town v Nuneaton
Having already been short of defenders following injuries to Sam Hatton and Clayton McDonald, the full-back's three-match suspension will now force the bosses to look for reinforcements before tonight's 11pm deadline.
"We're in for a busy day I think," he told the Telegraph.
"We're going to be looking around for someone and that's the frustrating thing."
"The sending off gives us a real headache. Ideally, we weren't looking to do anything – we wanted to work with the group that we've got.
"But after Saturday, we might need to act. We've got a big game at Luton next Saturday and we're desperately short on defenders at the minute.
"We've got people who can come in, but it's a case of who's available and what stage they're at.
"I said that I didn't want to bring people in to sit on the bench and upset what we've already got here, but I don't think anyone could have any arguments with us doing that after Saturday.
"It will now be case of getting through the circulars, making some calls and seeing what we can come up with."
Despite their performance for most of the game on Saturday, Town did stage an all too brief rally following Andy Cook's late goal. But ultimately, the hosts had left themselves with too much to do in order to salvage an unlikely point – particularly after Thomas' sending off.
And Hurst was far from impressed with the Londoner and afterwards accused him of letting his team-mates down.
He added: "It was just absolutely ridiculous. Aswad will be disciplined for that – it was pathetic.
"He went over and had a little kick at him. He tapped him and he had to go. It was petulant and something that little kids do.
"He let the team down."
