Lincoln City manager Danny Cowley has been speaking exclusively to Football League World's Gary Hutchinson, taking time to praise Ipswich Town manager Paul Hurst for his achievements at Shrewsbury and his policy at Ipswich.

Cowley and Hurst first crossed paths when the former was at Braintree and the latter at Grimsby, where Hurst's side got the better of the Iron.

Within a year both had earned promotion from the National League and have since established themselves as fine managers in the lower divisions.

Last season they crossed paths again, this time at Wembley in the Checkatrade Trophy Final, where Cowley's Lincoln got revenge for their manager with a 1-0 win.

Cowley was quick to praise his former adversary for the work he did at the New Meadow, as well as commenting on his current transfer policy.

"I think Paul Hurst did very well at Shrewsbury using a similar model. He signed players from lower leagues and used the loan market very well."

"His recruitment was superb and a big part of the success they had. He turned them from a team battling relegation into a team right on the edge of promotion in sixteen months."

Ipswich have signed Kayden Jackson, Jon Nolan and Toto Nsiala amongst others, all players Cowley's side faced last season and the former Concord Rangers manager is impressed with the recruitment he's seen at Portman Road.

"We played Shrewsbury in the Checkatrade final, they're athletically very good. If you look at what he's done at Ipswich he's gone with a similar model, trying to sign boys from the lower leagues, but with an athletic quality and a point to prove."

Cowley was linked with the Ipswich job in the early stages, but persistently pledged his future to the Imps, who are top of League Two after three matches.