Murphy is the new Drayton chairman

The surprise move follows the even more unexpected resignation at the weekend of Paul Moore as Town chairman. Moore has decided to return to his roots in football as a club manager and taken over Hallmark Securities NWC League Premier Division side Abbey Hey.

A former boss of Macclesfield Town, Colwyn Bay, Warrington and Congleton, Moore, who was also head coach at the Manchester City Academy for a while, had stepped in to help steady the Greenfields ship in the wake of Martyn Davies being sacked and then reappointed by popular demand.

Moore’s departure, which was announced on Saturday, was possibly the last thing Town needed so close to an AGM in which they look forward to a new season, against new opposition in the newly launched Evo-Stik NPL West competition.

But the bonus for Drayton, is Murphy’s appointment finally brings to the fore skills that have driven him into the hierarchy of not just the county but national corridors of English Football Association power.

He has managed Town as an emergency measure in the past but generally maintained a low profile while helping, in a myriad of ways, the club and local football generally for many, many, years

As such he was disappointed to hear, at Tuesday night’s meeting, of the disbandment of the reserve side Town launched last season.

“There were resignations and, sadly, we were left with no way forward,” he said.