Workington Town have appointed Anthony Murray as their new coach for their return to League One in 2023.
Murray has had great success at that level and in signing a deal for the next two seasons to rebuild Town, will be looking to make any promotion sustainable in the Championship.
In appointing Murray as head coach, Town have also confirmed that former successful Ellenborough Rangers coach Gary Murdock, who coached Town from 2000 to 2002, would be working closely with the new arrival as director of rugby.
Murray, 45, was League One Coach of the Year in 2021 for his achievements with North Wales Crusaders and he has again been nominated this season after leading the Welsh side to the play-offs.
He started his coaching career in the amateur game with Millom and in the professional game has worked at Barrow, Gloucester and North Wales.
As a player he represented nine different clubs and was with Town in 2003 when he played 14 games and scored two tries.
A product of the Wigan Academy he joined Warrington in 1997 and played in one game, a Challenge Cup-tie with Barrow at Wilderspool before switching to Widnes where he played in four senior games.
Leigh was his next port of call and proved his most rewarding with 52 starts and 22 substitute appearances in just over two years in which he scored 36 tries.
He then went on to play for Rochdale (6), Barrow (30), Chorley (8), Swinton (2) and Oldham (4) before retiring from professional rugby in 2004.
It was when moving into the amateur game that he picked-up his first piece of silverware – Player of the Year for 2006 in the National Conference League. As hooker for Leigh Miners Rangers he picked-up 15 man of the match awards.
His first coaching role was with Eccles and then Millom before succeeding Darren Holt at Barrow in 2013.
Club chairman John Pleasants said: “Anthony was the stand-out in a strong field. He is highly experienced and knows how to put together a strong and effective squad for a very competitive division.”
Murray said: ‘I’ve played for Town so know its heritage and its passionate supporters. I’ve also had some great matches over the years in Wales and here in Workington.
“I’m already hard at work with the Director of Rugby Gary Murdock and we’ll start to announce who’ll be playing on Derwent Park over the coming weeks and months. I’m really looking forward to meeting our group of fans who are renowned in the game for their allegiance, tenacity and passion!”
