Adam Murray

Playing career

Born in Birmingham, West Midlands, Murray began his career as a trainee with Derby County, turning professional in August 1998. He made his league debut on 17 April 1999, coming on as a second-half substitute for Mikkel Beck in Derby's 5–1 FA Premier League defeat away to West Ham United. He gradually established himself in Derby's first team, but in their final Premiership season, he lost his place and joined Mansfield Town on loan in February 2002. With Derby relegated he played more regularly in their Championship side, but by the start of the 2003–04 season was out of favour and joined Kidderminster Harriers on loan.

He returned early from the loan spell due to health reasons and it later emerged that he had an alcohol problem and had been treated for his addiction at the Priory Clinic.

He left Derby in November 2003, joining Notts County and later that month played twice in a one-week non-contract spell with Burton Albion before returning to Notts County. In January 2004, Murray rejoined Kidderminster Harriers and was a regular in their side until the end of the season.

In June 2004, he joined Mansfield Town where he was a regular until his move to Carlisle United in March 2005. On 10 August 2006 he handed in a transfer request to Carlisle manager Neil McDonald, which came after failing to appear in Carlisle's opening two games of the 2006–07 season and on 31 August 2006 (Summer transfer deadline day) he finally moved to Torquay United for a fee of £10,000. His most memorable moment at Carlisle was scoring the equaliser in the 2006 Football League Trophy Final against Swansea City. However his side went on to lose 2–1.

In January 2007, Murray joined fellow League Two strugglers Macclesfield Town, for a fee of £17,500 on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

Murray joined Oxford United in January 2008 and was named as captain for the 2008–09 and 2009–10 seasons. However, a back operation caused Murray to miss the second half of Oxford's 2009–10 campaign, in which they were promoted into The Football League for the first time in four years. He was released from the club at the end of the season, after his family failed to settle into the Oxford area, and subsequently returned to Derby. Chairman Kelvin Thomas told the club's official website: "It is with a heavy heart that we have had to come to this decision. Adam is a good player and did really well for us at the beginning of last season, and in previous seasons. Unfortunately Adam wasn't involved in the final promotion push due to injury, but we do feel that our decision to have players live close has been justified. Adam has made a decision to put his family first, which as a family orientated club we fully understand and appreciate."

On 6 July 2010, Murray joined Conference Premier side Luton Town on a two-year contract. He made only seven appearances before moving to Mansfield Town, only 20 miles from his home in Derby, on a three-month loan deal on 1 October 2010, with a view to a permanent move taking place in January 2011. On 5 January 2011, Murray made his transfer permanent. On 21 June 2012 Murray became assistant manager at Mansfield following Micky Moore's decision to leave.

Murray became caretaker manager of the Stags after Paul Cox's departure on 21 November 2014. Murray's first game as manager, a day later, was a 1–0 victory at home to Plymouth Argyle.

Managerial career

Murray was appointed player-manager of Mansfield on 5 December 2014, becoming the youngest manager in the Premier League or the Football League. He left his position as manager of Mansfield on 14 November 2016.

On 9 December 2016, Murray was appointed manager of National League North club Boston United.

Managerial statistics