OLDHAM Athletic have parted company with head of Academy Paul Murray, the Oldham Times understands.

The 44-year-old is a club legend, having been a fans’ favourite during his three years as a player at Boundary Park between 2001 and 2004, during which time he made more than 100 appearances and scored 15 goals.

He returned to Latics at the end of his playing career and made the move into coaching, going on to manage Hartlepool United before holding various coaching roles at Barrow, Fleetwood Town and Carlisle United, before returning for a third spell with Latics in 2019, this time to head up the youth set-up.

He has gone on to enjoy success in that department, and was instrumental in the development of young striker Zak Emmerson, who aged just 15 joined Brighton for £270,000 a year ago, having made his Latics debut from the bench in October 2019.

Last season, working alongside former Tunisian international Selim Benachour following his appointment as youth team manager in September 2020, Murray was involved in the fast-tracking of first year scholar Harry Vaughan to the first team, while at the end of the season the 17-year-old was offered professional terms, along with second year scholars Vani Da Silva, Junior Luamba and Will Sutton.

There has not yet been any comment from the club about Murray's departure, despite requests. But the former QPR and Shrewsbury midfielder's exit has come as a shock to Latics fans, who view it as another poor decision by owner Abdallah Lemsagam and his sporting director brother, Mo, and CEO Karl Evans.

Supporters' group Push The Boundary, who have been vehement in their drive to force a change of ownership at Oldham, in a statement said: "It’s really disappointing to hear that another member of staff, and someone who served the club both as a coach and a player, has been shown the door.

"Again we are left to find this information out via another (non-club) source. This again leaves us as a fanbase in a familiar situation where a further staff member has been relieved of their duties.

"In our conversations with Karl Evans and also on the Boundary Park Alert System podcast, it appeared that ‘Muzza’ was incredibly well thought of behind the scenes, so it yet again raises more questions around the stability within the football club that seemingly popular figures are shown the door, while others that can be held culpable (such as the sporting director), are still remaining and seemingly untouchable regardless of performance.

"It’s clear that the continued chopping and changing hasn’t worked previously yet we continue down this path of uncertainty and a lack of transparency."

After a year in the role, and having also worked closely with then manager Dino Maamria in a coaching capacity - who is believed to hold Murray and his work ethic in high regard, he said: "We've totally changed the culture of the academy since I've arrived, and I've seen it with my own eyes that the attitude of the players has changed.

"Don't get me wrong, it's been very tough and difficult, but I've managed to mould it the way I've wanted to with the help of the coaches as well as the people I've brought in and recruited.

"We have around five staff members with the same mindset and we've inherited Conor (Marlin) and Craig (Large) who are doing fantastic jobs. To add to all of that, I've got a really good relationship with the managing director (ex-MD Natalie Atkinson) and she helps to make sure that things run smoothly as possible in the academy.

"We have technical board meetings which she's involved in with the head coach so it's definitely going the way that I want it to.

"There are still things that I want to change this coming season but we're getting there. My experiences in football are why I'm really enjoying this new role, having an impact on young lives for the better."