Annan Athletic’s new boss has been busy recruiting for his new-look Galabankies side as he prepares for his first competitive game in his managerial career.
On Thursday, Athletic announced the double signing of Dan Orsi and Owen Moxon to bring the total of players signed-up for their 2017/18 campaign to eight.
But of the seven outfield players set to play for the Galabank outfit next term, with goalkeeper Alex Mitchell having re-signed, four of the players – including Murphy himself – are defenders.
Aidan Smith, due to play for the Black and Golds again after last season’s loan spell, is the only striker currently signed.
“I’m looking now for more forward players,” Carlisle United’s record outfield appearance-maker Murphy said.
“But they are a commodity that is quite thin on the ground. It’s about maybe finding someone that has slipped the net.”
Midfield men Orsi and Moxon were the latest to link-up with Murphy’s Annan on Thursday.
On the duo, Murphy said: “We have signed Oxen Moxon. He is technically very good. He is a good size, as well. We are looking for him to develop and I’m going to try to help him to develop.
“Dan Orsi is 25. He is quite experienced. He did well last season at his Junior side [Glenafton Athletic].
“They won the Scottish Junior Cup. With that little bit of experience, he will help the players in our team. They both look after themselves, too, which is important in part-time football.”
With the Scottish League Two fixtures released, Annan know they will begin their 2017/18 league season at home to Peterhead on August 5, before travelling to Clyde the Saturday after.
But, before that, last season’s Scottish League One promotion play-off semi-finalists will come up against former Annan boss Jim Chapman’s Clyde, Murphy’s old club Ayr United, Dumbarton and Scottish Premier League’s Kilmarnock in the Betfred Cup.
And the Black and Golds’ players could line-up against some familiar faces on the pitch with Max Wright and the Scottish League Two Team of the Year keeper Blair Currie having joined the Cumbernauld club after both playing for Annan last season.
“The way it has worked out, there are some quite competitive games straight away,” Murphy added.
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