Murray joins Cheltenham as assistant

CHELTENHAM have appointed former Mansfield boss Adam Murray as their new assistant manager, writes Jon Palmer.

The 42-year-old, pictured, was most recently in charge of Fylde, who he guided to promotion to the National League last season.

He has also managed Boston United and taken caretaker charge of Barnsley.

Murray joined the backroom staff at Port Vale in February 2022 to support acting manager Andy Crosby during Darrell Clarke’s period of bereavement leave.

A three-month spell at Besiktas followed under head coach Valerien Ismael, whom he had also worked with at West Bromwich Albion and Barnsley.

In his playing days, Murray started out as a midfielder at Derby County, appearing in the Premier League as a teenager.

He went on to represent Notts County, Burton, Kidderminster, Mansfield, Carlisle, Torquay, Macclesfield, Oxford and Luton, chalking up more than 500 appearances over 17 years.

Birmingham-born Murray will now become Clarke’s number two at Whaddon Road following the departure of Kevin Russell. The former Wrexham player had been brought to the club in the summer by previous boss Wade Elliott, and was interim manager between Elliott and Clarke.

Ashley Vincent will remain as first team coach, also providing a close link between the senior setup and the academy.

Cheltenham were without a game last weekend due to international call-ups, but they return to action with a home fixture against Cambridge United in League One this afternoon.

The Robins scored their first goal of the League One season and claimed only their second point when drawing 1-1 at home to Derby County a fortnight ago, and Clarke is hoping his side will build on that today.

And while Cambridge are 13 points better off in 17th place in the table, they are not in form of late and represent a good chance for Cheltenham to break their win duck for the season.

Clarke said: “It’s about how we perform and building on that positive performance against Derby and trying to get that first win now.”

While last week’s match was called off due to international call-ups, it has given Clarke the chance to work with his players on the training ground.

He added: “It’s about working away, chipping away, getting all my ideas across.”