ALAN Murray has revealed he is relishing the challenge of being Blackburn Rovers' new assistant manager.

The former reserve team boss will take over as Graeme Souness's number two from Tony Parkes, who will replace Murray as part of a major backroom re-shuffle.

"I'm delighted and looking forward to the challenge," said Murray today.

"I think the manager has shown confidence in my ability and qualities, and I'm looking forward to putting those into practice.

"I think I've got a lot of experience and worked with Graeme for a long time, but I've worked individually and managed teams reasonably successfully, albeit at a lower level.

"But sometimes it's more difficult to manage at a lower level with few facilities and certainly no money so if you can be reasonably successful it breeds confidence.

"So I'm confident I can work with the players and get the best out of them."

Murray managed Hartlepool and Darlington in the early 1990s and worked with Souness at Southampton and Benfica before the Rovers boss brought him to Ewood as chief scout in 2000.

His new role is part of a shake-up that Souness has described as "a freshening up" with Dean Saunders and Phil Boersma sharing first team coaching duties.

Other backroom staff changes see Rob Kelly assist Parkes with running the reserves, leaving his post as head of youth coaching at the Academy.

Murray added: "I've been the main beneficiary of the changes but Tony has a lot to contribute to the team and will continue to do that.

"I think we have a really good situation at Blackburn. We had a poor season for us last year but we've learnt from it and want to move forward.

"Everybody will be working together with that aim."

ROVERS will play Stockport County on Wednesday July 28, with a 7.45pm kick-off.