GERRY MURPHY was delighted to give Town fans the chance to mark a decade of service from Danny Schofield.
The 28-year-old, who will seek a new challenge this summer, marked his final home appearance for the club with the opening goal in Saturday’s win over Walsall.
Home supporters in a 9,969 crowd (366 from the Midlands) showed their appreciation of his long service when he came off for Danny Broadbent in the 80th minute.
“I was really pleased for Danny and you couldn’t really have scripted things any better,” said Murphy.
“I thought he deserved a big round of applause for all the work he’s done here and that was the main reason for bringing him off early.
“He appreciated that and thanked us for it afterwards.”
Schofield is in line to make his final Town appearance at Luton on Saturday, when Murphy will again take the team.
That was confirmed by new manager Stan Ternent, who watched Saturday’s third successive win from the stand and will have the same vantage point at Kenilworth Road.
“I thought the side played well and passed the ball well,” said Ternent, who along with assistant Ronnie Jepson, took over on Friday.
“It was good to keep the momentum going with another win, and there’s certainly something for me to work with!
“I’ll be around the training ground this week, and with Graham Mitchell away on a coaching course, Ronnie will work alongside Gerry.
“For myself, this week is all about assessing where we are in relation to contracts and preparations for next season.
“Because I had been working for Derby right up to taking the job here, Saturday’s was the first Town match I’ve seen this season.
“Two games isn’t a huge amount to go on, but that’s the situation. You make the best of the timescale available, and I’ll be talking to Gerry to help get myself up to speed.
“There’s no point moving for new signings until I’ve assessed the squad we have here already, so that’s a top priority for me.”
Murphy, who will aim to make it six games unbeaten in his second stint as caretaker, added: “It’s down to Stan who takes the team, and I’ll respect whatever decision he makes.
“He left it entirely to myself and Graham Mitchell on Saturday, and while we started a little slowly, probably because the lads knew the new manager was watching and were desperate to make a good first impression, we got going eventually.
“The system (3-5-2) we have been playing suits the players here. It’s been a case of putting round pegs in round holes really.
“As long as we stay solid at the back, which we have been doing we’ll be okay.
“We’ve told the players to try to build from the back and get the ball out wide, and they’ve taken that on board.
“It’s not rocket science, more a case of organising and directing, and the players have given me everything.
“Most of them have known me a long time, and there’s a mutual respect there.
“I’ve enjoyed my second spell in charge, but the club is bigger than any individual.
“It’s all about the long term and moving the club forward, and we all hope Stan and Ronnie can do that.”
