TOWN'S long-serving Academy director Gerry Murphy has signed a new three-year contract.
And the 60-year-old Irishman, who joined the club in 1988, couldn't be happier at the prospect of spending the rest of his working career at the McAlpine Stadium.
"It's a three-year deal with a 12-month roll-on, and it's designed to take me through to retirement," said Murphy, who has brought the likes of Jon Stead and Nathan Clarke through the Town junior ranks.
"But really, I don't want to think about retirement, because I see this as a job for life.
"It's great for the directors to have given me this vote of confidence, and I think the Academy facilities we have in place now are superb.
"It's sometimes been a bit of a battle to convince people of the worth of an Academy, but I've never deviated from believing in its value, and I'm convinced we'll see that over the next few years.
"The success of our system is in the staff - I want to put on record my thanks for all the tremendous work they are doing - as well as the excellent attitude of our manager Peter Jackson.
"He's always been supportive of the Academy, there is regular dialogue between the pair of us, and he has put the youngsters in the first team, which is the biggest encouragement of all."
Having come to Huddersfield from Dublin at the age of 13, Murphy played local football for Birkby CYC and Britannia Works before passing his first coaching badge in 1969 and taking charge of District League Rawthorpe.
He had a highly successful 10-year stint leading now-defunct Bradley Rangers from 1973-83, and after a period of ill health, linked up with Town at the invitation of then Youth coach George Mulhall 15 years ago.
"There have been problems and sleepless nights along the way, but the Academy is in top shape and long may that continue," he said.
With no first-team fixture tomorrow because of FA Cup elimination, the Under 19s take centre stage with their FA Academy League clash with Sheffield United at the Welfare Ground, Emley (11.00).
Town will have a scout at next week's Third Division hosts Macclesfield, who take on Cambridge in the second round of the Cup, while there are two League games, Darlington versus York and Hull against Bury, which means the McAlpine club's 10th position could be affected.
York have registered their interest in former Town striker Paul Barnes, who has been released by Doncaster.
He played alongside York manager Chris Brass at Burnley.
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