Soccer
Adam Murray is not afraid to upset the balance to help Kidderminster fulfil their undoubted potential
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For any new manager replacing a boss who has been successful at a football club, the task is always a difficult one.
Last season, Kidderminster Harriers were on the brink of a return to the National League, only to fall short when they lost in the play-off semi-finals to Chester, and as a result, Phil Brown was removed from his post.
Former Premier League gaffer Brown headed an enjoyable spell at Kidderminster, but the club decided to go in a different direction for 2025-26 and moved to appoint former Fylde and Eastbourne Borough manager Adam Murray to lead another promotion bid.
So far, Murray remains somewhat on course; Harriers are sitting in the play-off positions in the National League North table and are once again in the promotion mix, but it doesn't tell the whole story of the season so far.
Ahead of Saturday's live game on DAZN between Kidderminster Harriers and Radcliffe, Murray admitted to DAZN News that he's had to put his own stamp on the club since he came in over the summer.
"I think for the size of the club, and I've been quite honest with it and I think I've probably upset a few people with it, with telling a few truths.
"But on paper, it hasn't been as successful as it should have been. I think they've only been out of this league once in the last 10 years, which, for the presence of the club, is not good enough.
"But I just think there's so much potential at this football club.
"We have changed everything, we've scrapped things that have been there for 6, 7, 8 years and kind of gone back to scratch, we've changed the philosophy, we've changed the culture.
"Some people don't like that, so we have had a little bit of a tough time, but we're sitting in the playoffs, so as average as we've been so far with all the change, we still feel like we're in a really good place."
Average is the word Murray continues to use as he takes stock of the start Harriers have made to the season.
They currently trail unbeaten leaders South Shields by ten points; however, they could be closer to the top three if it hadn't been for some late turnarounds in their opening ten games.
Yet, Murray, who began his footballing journey as a player in the Premier League with Derby, is happier that he's seen his team's weaknesses rather than taking points that may have papered over some early issues in his side.
"Average," he says when asked about his team's start.
"It's crazy because we had our last two home games where we played Buxton and Macclesfield, where we conceded an equalising goal in the 112th minute and the 98th minute.Harriers.co.uk
"We would have been four points better off, and you're probably sitting second or third in the league. Everybody says what a great start it is, rather than an okay start. But for me, it would have masked over a few things.
"I'm quite happy in a strange way. I know that sounds mad that it's worked out as it has, because it's shown me a lot of things. It's shown me the areas I need to improve, the people who can't step up to what I'm asking.
"That's always a tough conversation to have, but it's given us a lot of clarity in what we need to do.
"We're probably at 60% of what we're capable of. So, to be in that position, we're quite optimistic."
Kidderminster will look to carry that optimism into Saturday's game, when they host a Radcliffe team sitting one point and a place above them in the league.
While expectations come as part of the package as Harriers manager at this level, the same can't be said about what was expected of Radcliffe this season.
Last year, they were scrapping at the wrong end of the table, but the management duo of Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson have made an impressive start to this campaign, and Murray is full of praise for the job they've done.
"I think from the season they had last season and the way they've gone about this season, you have to give credit to the managers.
"There's a lot of risk-free reward in how they play, but they're very front-footed, very attacking. They back themselves, and you can tell within the group, yes, they've got good players, and I love the way they play, but they've got an unbelievable mindset, and that shines through.
"They're not scared to make mistakes. They really do play on the front foot. So, it's going to be a big challenge for us.
Harriers.co.uk
"I think when you've got teams like that that are playing with no fear, they've probably not got the expectations and the pressure on top of them as a club like us have. And that enables you the freedom."
Murray, though, has no fear in living up to those expectations and believes in the project he was sold into when he decided to join the club in the summer.
He cites the vision the chairman has for the club and its 'Championship-standard training ground' as well as his enjoyment of blooding young players at a level that he thinks doesn't get enough respect.
However, whatever success he does bring to Kiddy, it will be a thought-out process rather than a rapid ascent through the divisions.
"This isn't going to be a two or three major hit where you just win, win, win and go through four leagues straight away," he finished by stating.
"That's not going to happen here. It's going to be a steady rise, and we've got to stay consistent in everything we're doing.
"But the potential here, I don't think you can put a lid on it."
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