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Kidderminster manager leaves days after promotion having been approached by Barrow

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Kidderminster manager leaves days after promotion having been approached by Barrow

Kidderminster manager Adam Murray leaves days after promotion having been approached by recently relegated club Barrow.

Pete O’Rourke first broke the news, tweeting: “Understand Adam Murray had left his role as Kidderminster Harriers manager.

He added in another post: “Adam Murray is being lined up for a move to Barrow as their new manager. Sam Foley has been in interim charge at Barrow but could not prevent their relegation from League Two.”

KIDDERMINSTER STATEMENT:

Kidderminster Harriers can reluctantly confirm that Adam Murray is to leave his position as Manager following an approach from another club.

Shortly after the weekend’s final, a club presently in the EFL met a release clause within Adam’s contract to discuss their vacancy, which Adam has expressed a desire to pursue.

We understand the timing of this announcement will come as a disappointment to fans following Saturday’s promotion.

Chairman Richard Lane commented: “Adam has been very open and honest with me since the weekend. While he was a year into a two-year contract and a project with us here, I fully respect that, given the overall financial package on offer, he feels it is an opportunity for him and his family that he cannot turn down.

“While the timing is unfortunate following such a fantastic end to the season, I am sure we all wish Adam nothing but the best for his future.

“At this time and always, our priority is on our fantastic club and its fans; our focus now is on moving quickly with a managerial appointment that will lead us into a new chapter in our history after promotion.”

Richard added to Harriers fans: “Collectively, we have achieved something amazing this season and I want those memories to stay fresh in the minds of our supporters and sponsors, who backed us so incredibly, particularly in those final months of the season.

“We have every cause to celebrate, and we will move forward with nothing but positivity and excitement for our next challenge.”

BARROW STATEMENT:

Barrow AFC are delighted to confirm the appointment of Adam Murray as new First-Team Manager on a deal until the summer of 2028.

Murray heads to Holker Street fresh from play-off success last weekend, as Kidderminster Harriers earnt promotion to the Enterprise National League. However, he will now lead the Bluebirds into our 125th anniversary season.

After a stellar playing career throughout the football league and non-league settings he first delved into coaching with Mansfield Town in November 2014 when he became caretaker manager of the Stags.

His first game was a one nil victory over Plymouth Argyle and after a spell in temporary charge he was given the job on a permanent basis in the December of 2014, subsequently becoming the youngest manager in the top four divisions of English football.

After a short spell at Boston United, Murray joined Barnsley in late 2018 and following a spell of interim stints he worked alongside Valérien Ismaël for the next few years.

He followed Ismaël to West Bromwich Albion in July 2021 and later made the move to Süper Lig side Beşiktaş again with Ismaël.

AFC Fylde was the next destination for Murray and in his debut season on the Fylde Coast, the Coasters were promoted as champions to the National League following a haul of 95 points.

Following his departure from Fylde, Murray joined Cheltenham Town as Assistant Manager in October 2023.

Eastbourne Borough was the next stop in his managerial journey with the club sitting 21st in the National League South on 4th January 2024.

Murray saw a brilliant upturn of form and kept Eastbourne in the NLS. The following campaign the Sports finished third and missed out on top spot by a solitary point in an impressive season.

Kidderminster Harriers was his final point of call before Holker Street and his sole season at Aggborough Stadium ended in play-off success last weekend over South Shields.

Murray now heads to Holker Street ahead of the clubs 125th anniversary season.

Chairman Paul Hornby spoke of his delight of securing Adam’s services.

“I’m delighted to welcome Adam to the club and can’t wait to see him get started at the club,” Hornby said.

“We as the board identified Adam as a target early due to his track record, current performances, and philosophy.

“We had to bide our time, due to his success with Kidderminster this season which extended into the post-season games but are really pleased to be able to have him on board.

“He’s a young, hungry manager but already has a whole range of experiences in England and in Europe including two promotions into the National League in the last four years.

“We also spoke to people within the game who couldn’t speak highly enough of him as a manager and as a person which speaks volumes of him as an individual.

“Our ambitions and beliefs for this season align and that culture and togetherness is going to be such a key factor this season and myself and the board are really excited for the year ahead.”

An extended interview will be available on the club’s YouTube channel later following Adam’s first day at Holker Street.

Welcome to Barrow, Adam!

Here’s how fans reacted after the Kidderminster manager leaves days after promotion having been approached by Barrow…

@TravisKHFC: That’s how little he thinks of us then

@JmozzaKHFC: North stand, grab the guitar “I don’t care about Murray”…

@Wesley_James: 2 DAYS WE GOT TO CELEBRATE, 2 FECKING DAYS. THIS IS THE ULTIMATE KIDDY THING TO DO

@TomLong78: You can’t threaten a man with the sack and then complain when he leaves for a better offer. Very sad to see @admuz leave, but only the utmost respect for what he achieved. Good luck for the future Adam – and thank you for the fantastic memories 👏🏻 @khfcofficial #COYR 🦅🔴⚪️⚽️

@aggborough: If that’s what he thinks of us then so be it, not arsed. 48 players it took to get it right.. don’t forget that. If it wasn’t for RL he would have gone sooner!

@jamiemac198: As easy as it would be to let this cast a spell over promotion we can’t let that happen. If he doesn’t want to be here then no point him staying. Need to get an appointment sorted ASAP and get that retained list sorted.

@JayKhfc: Wish him well it’s clear to see it was never going to be long term he got us promoted so we have to thank him is what it is tbh

@dancartwright87: Got us promoted but the football has been awful. His summer recruitment was terrible. Not disappointed.

@mattskhfc: Still can’t head around it but I have no ill feeling to Murray going if there’s better prospects and money, he did what he was tasked to do and I genuinely wish him all the best

@simonc1607: Only Harriers would get promoted and 4 days later lose the manager and their best players all be linked with other clubs. The joys of following the carpetmen I guess – it’s never boring.

ADAM MURRAY’S INTERVIEW AFTER WINNING PROMOTION:

Interviewer: Adam, difficult to put into words what’s just happened, but what a day.

Adam: You got me off guard there, didn’t you? Yeah.

Interviewer: Well, let’s look at it this way. It has been a season’s a season of ups and downs. And to say that’s the ending everyone wanted and this group deserved would be an understatement really.

Adam: Yeah. Look, it’s been a it’s been a grind. um there’s been some some real challenges. There’s been some real high moments.

“But that group of players is a special group of players and and not just footballers, they’re unbelievable people and I think Digger said it last week in his speech before the game is it’s the best changing room he’s ever been in. Um and and the togetherness in there, the the team what people talk about team spirit like team spirit is when you know that the man next to you is going to is going to die for you if needs be, and them boys have got that.

“I’m just so proud of all the players. I’m so proud of the staff. The staff have grinded so hard this season. I’ve pushed them. I’ve pushed them in long days, long hours, and everyone just deserves a lot of credit today and I’m just so happy after the season that the club had last season to to fail at the last hurdle.

“It was always going to be a massive challenge this season to to go again, but everybody everybody’s dug in and I’m just so so pleased for everybody.”

Interviewer: “And there’s been some outside noise and you just feel almost like this group deserves a bit of respect now because coming into the playoffs, Chester, we were told had the momentum. You’ll never get past Macclesfield in the playoffs, you’ll never beat South Shields three times in a season. And yet…”

Adam: “Yeah, I think look, we I’ve said it in my press in the week that this team has been playing under pressure for a long long time, and they’ve had to win games for a long long time.

“And we had it in our presentation this morning and the wording on the slide in my presentation was big and bold. It was too powerful, and I just felt like we was too powerful over the last few months and and I felt it today.

“I felt we would be too powerful, and you know me, Matt, you know me better than a lot of people. And you know how strong I am in my belief in God and my faith. And it’s the same with my boys.

“It’s the same with with my way of playing. I’ve got so much faith in them and and them executing the game plans, and when when I stood in front of them this morning and we did our meeting, I knew it takes something special for somebody to come and beat us.

“And when we spoke about if we punched them on the chin today and we got we got the first goal to go straight after him again because once this group senses blood it takes a lot to hold them back. And we did that.

“We went straight back after them and and killed them off and and let’s not let’s not mix it up. These are a top side that we beat again today. They’re a top top side and a top coach and they’ve had an unbelievable season and I’ve got to be honest, my heart goes out to them because I know how much it takes out of you to be in a title race for 46 games and it’s tiring. So to lose this way I feel for him, but I’m over the moon for for these players and supporters tonight.”

Watch the rest below…



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