Adam Murray has departed Cheltenham Town with immediate affect, being named as Eastbourne Borough’s new manager, reports GloucestershireLive.
The 42-year-old has previously spent time with Mansfield, AFC Fylde and Boston United in a full-time managerial position. Most notably guiding Fylde to the fifth tier, ultimately as National League North champions in the 2022/23 campaign.
Following the dismissal of Wade Elliott in September, Darrell Clarke was named as the Robins boss, with the former Port-Vale manager bringing in Murray as a forward-thinking coach, in an attempt to improve the Gloucestershire sides’ woeful scoring record.
Despite equalling a joint league-record for eleven consecutive matches without scoring a goal, since the arrival of Murray on October 20th, Cheltenham Town managed to score in ten consecutive league outings.
Murray describing his attacking approach as ‘direct but with a purpose’, and ‘pressing from the front’. As a result, The Robins have returned 16 goals from 11 matches.
The League One club released a short statement;
“Cheltenham Town can confirm that assistant manager Adam Murray has left the club with immediate effect after accepting a role at a National League South club.”
“Adam informed the Board of Directors of his decision to pursue a managerial position this morning (January 4).”
Recently, chairman David Bloxham explained that all back room staff, except the head coach, operate on ‘rolling contracts’ to ensure a low-risk if things were to go wrong. This approach being highly criticised by Cheltenham Town fans after losing multiple key figures in the summer, including Director of Football, Mickey Moore to Shrewsbury Town.
Speaking to Journalist, Jon Palmer, on the matter, Bloxham stated;
“On the day of the Reading Game (29th December), Adam texted the gaffer and said he’d had an ‘unbelievable offer’ on terms that he couldn’t turn down.”
“Darrell made it clear he wanted to keep Adam, so we offered him a 45 per cent increase in salary, along with a staying up bonus, making him by far and away the highest paid assistant manager we’ve ever had. He accepted the offer and was grateful.”
“He went back to Eastbourne to say he wasn’t interested, but it’s my understanding that after sacking their manager, they went back to him and said ‘what do you want?’ and made him an offer that was not viable for us to compete with.”
As far as the Cheltenham Town board, and manager Darrel Clarke alike, the matter was resolved, however this was not to be the case.
Bloxham continued;
He said ‘sorry, I am no longer prepared to accept what you offered and I am going to Eastbourne’.”
“We have had no contact at all with Eastbourne, which is very disappointing.”
“Adam has effectively broken a deal we agreed very recently and he has not gone in accordance with the terms of his contract.”
With the Chairman finally adding;
“There is always a risk in putting an assistant manager on a fixed-term contract because if it doesn’t work out, it can be very expensive.”
Although Murray was not on a ‘fixed’ contract, the former Besiktas assistant, was obligated to serve a period of notice.
Cheltenham Town remain in the League One drop, occupying 23rd, three points adrift from Reading.
With an ongoing search for a new assistant, Darrell Clarke and his entourage host League leaders, Portsmouth, at home on Saturday.
Writer’s View
Although Adam Murray was only with the Robins for two-and-a-half months, his impact has been significant. Since his arrival, Cheltenham Town have transformed into a confident, hard-working side who defend from the front and get right into the opposition’s faces.
After already experiencing hardship this campaign and yet another setback, it is imperative that Darrell Clarke brings in somebody equally as capable to help him pick up as many points as possible, to give himself and his side every chance of survival.
