Daz foresees a bright future for Tynecastle hot prospects

NEW Hearts under-19 coach Darren Murray has spent a decade learning his trade under some of the greatest managers and coaches the club has had in recent years and he insisted that it's left him ready to help mould the Jambos' future.

Despite the longevity of his time at Tynecastle, Murray's name is one that probably isn't too familiar to the majority of the Hearts support.

Yet the Gorgie faithful will be well aware of the end product of his behind-the-scenes endeavour as he's helped to propel the likes of Andy Driver, Jamie Mole and Calum Elliot into the first team.

At a time when Hearts are turning more and more to foreign imports, Murray has played a key role in helping to nurture some of the best home grown talent the club has to offer.

He has worked with the Gorgie outfit's under-16s and 17s since he was brought onto the books at Hearts almost ten years ago on the recommendation of John McGlynn, below. He's slowly been climbing the coaching ladder ever since until his biggest appointment to date when he was placed in temporary charge of the under-19s last month, a move which is expected to be confirmed as permanent imminently.

Murray was at the helm when the club's Under-16 side clinched the prestigious Milk Cup tournament in Northern Ireland in 2004.

Ironically, it was McGlynn's decision to accept the Raith Rovers manager's job that allowed for a shuffling of the coaching pack as Stephen Frail was promoted to assistant coach leaving a position vacant for Murray.

And he's revealed it's a role he's relishing as he works with the top young talent at Hearts at a crucial stage of their careers.

"It's a very exciting opportunity for me," admitted Murray. "I will work really hard for the club but most importantly I'm in it for the boys, to help them get better and to try and improve themselves.

"The ultimate game is to get them into the first team and if you can do that it's a massive pat on the back for all the Academy coaching staff. I've worked under a lot of good coaches and I feel I'm ready for this position now."

Murray's career to date in the game has been an eventful one.

As a teenager he played with Hutchison Vale before moving into the East Seniors with Easthouses where things really began to take off for him. His impressive displays brought him to the attention of Jim Jefferies and Billy Brown who persuaded him to move to Berwick Rangers.

Murray established himself as a first team regular at Shielfield Park and impressed enough that when Jefferies and Brown moved to Brockville they took him with them. He fared less well at Falkirk and found himself playing predominantly reserve team football and, after two seasons with the Bairns, he moved to Bonnyrigg Athletic.

Following a short stint there he was signed by Musselburgh Athletic Juniors - managed by McGlynn - in a switch that would eventually pave the way for his move to Hearts.

"I first met John at Musselburgh where he was my manager and we hit it off straight away," said Murray. "I played under him for a while but then he got offered a position with Hearts which he felt was too good to turn down. Almost immediately he asked if I wanted to go and work with the youths at the club. I was only 28 and had to make the decision on whether to continue playing or go to Hearts. I opted for Hearts." While at Tynecastle Murray's relationship with McGlynn became even closer, so much so that he now regards the new Raith boss as "his best friend in football".

And he readily admits that McGlynn has been the biggest influence on his career to date.

"What's there not to learn under John McGlynn?" enthused Murray. "You honestly have no idea how good a coach the guy is. He is the best coach I've ever worked with - you only have to see that every manager has kept him on.

"He's spot on and is a real gentleman. He doesn't suffer fools gladly yet has a real rapport with players. I probably speak to him just about every night on the phone and take advice from him. He's my best friend in football. If you think you've made it and stop taking advice you're in for a fall.

"I've also worked closely with Stephen Frail who has made the step-up look easy while John Murray, who I've worked with for a long-time, has been brilliant."

However, Murray has had a difficult start to life as under-19 manager, suffering a defeat to Falkirk in his first match, a heavy loss to Rangers in his second and an unlucky exit in the SFA Youth Cup at the hands of Hibs at the weekend. The wee Jambos dominated the clash with their neighbours at Tynecastle only to be hit by a killer sucker punch in the second half when Damon Gray fired in a wonder strike on the counter attack.

And Murray admitted it was a low-point in his career in the game so far. "My good pal John McGlynn got beaten at the weekend in the Cup by Dumbarton which I would never have seen coming and I lost as well but that's football for you," he said. "John actually came along to watch us, which was great, and I talked to him after the game about what had gone on.

"I dare say there will be other weekends like the last one but you just have to try and take the good with the bad.

"I went into the dressing room after the game and congratulated the players on how they had played.

"To the letter the boys did what was asked of them and that's all you can ask of your players.

"I really can't praise them highly enough for how they played which is why it's a bit of a sickener that we lost the game because, no matter who you support, if you saw the game you'd have to say we were the better team.

"I've been in place for two or three weeks and we've played Falkirk and Rangers which was disappointing but we played really well against Hibs.

"As much as I'm a winner, and it's a cup tie against Hibs, we couldn't do much more than we did. But, at this stage, it's all about how you play and getting players ready and I really believe I can help these guys and help to give Hearts a bright future."

Taken from the Scotsman