Murray returns to mentor academy coaches

Hearts have brought their former youth mastermind Darren Murray back to Riccarton as head of coach education. Murray is to mentor coaches within the club’s academy in a key development role.

A pivotal figure in the emergence of players such as Callum Paterson, Sam Nicholson, Jason Holt and Jamie Walker before the onset of administration, Murray left Hearts four years ago for Coventry City.

He has spent the last two years as head coach of Box Soccer, the youth coaching programme used by Hearts teams at younger age levels. Murray, 47, will combine that role with his new one at Riccarton.

Meanwhile, Hearts have launched their own performance school at Balerno High to oversee the academic and footballing progress of their youth players.

Riccarton teenagers will get daily lessons and football coaching at the school, which is just three miles from the Hearts training ground on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

Their academic studies there will be supplemented by 90 minutes of elite football coaching every day. They will then visit Riccarton to train with the club three nights per week.