Jim Duffy (footballer)

Jim Duffy
Personal information
Date of birth (1959-04-27) 27 April 1959 (age 65)
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Maryhill
1978–1979 Celtic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1979–1982 Celtic 0 (0)
1982–1985 Morton 119 (3)
1985–1988 Dundee 83 (2)
1990 Dundee 8 (0)
1990–1992 Partick Thistle 72 (4)
1992–1996 Dundee 108 (0)
Total 390 (9)
International career
1986 Scotland U21[1] 1 (0)
Managerial career
1988–1989 Falkirk
1993–1996 Dundee
1996–1998 Hibernian
2002–2005 Dundee
2007 Norwich City (caretaker)
2009–2010 Brechin City
2011–2014 Clyde
2014–2018 Greenock Morton
2018–2021 Dumbarton
2021 Ayr United
2022–2023 Clyde
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

James Duffy (born 27 April 1959) is a Scottish football coach and former player, who was most recently the Director of Football at Scottish League Two club Clyde.

During his playing career he played for Celtic, Greenock Morton, Dundee (three spells) and Partick Thistle.

His managerial career has involved spells with Falkirk, Hibernian, Dundee (two spells – first as player-manager), Brechin City, Greenock Morton, Dumbarton and Ayr United. Duffy also had a brief Director of Football role at Hearts and an extensive coaching career including spells in English football.

Playing career

Duffy was born in Glasgow, growing up in the Maryhill area of the city (specifically the Wyndford estate) where he was a childhood friend and neighbour of Charlie Nicholas.[2][3] Like Nicholas, Duffy began his senior career with Celtic. Duffy, however, was unable to follow his friend into the Celtic first team and moved to Greenock Morton. His career developed greatly there, and in 1985 he was named Scottish PFA Players' Player of the Year despite Morton being relegated.

He moved to Dundee, only for his career to apparently be ended by injury aged only 28. After brief spells as Airdrieonians assistant manager in 1988, and then as manager of Falkirk,[4] he made a playing comeback with Dundee before joining Partick Thistle. Duffy then returned to Dundee for a third spell in 1992 as player/assistant manager to Simon Stainrod. Duffy then succeeded Stainrod to become player-manager in the autumn of 1993.

Managerial career

Early career

Duffy led First Division side Dundee to the Scottish League Cup Final in November 1995, but the team lost 2–0 to Aberdeen. Duffy followed this with an unsuccessful spell as manager of Hibernian. After working for Chelsea and Portsmouth as a coach, he returned yet again to Dundee for a second stint as manager in 2002.

Second spell at Dundee

He was appointed manager on 4 July 2002.[5] During his second spell as manager at Dens Park he again led Dundee to Hampden, this time for the 2003 Scottish Cup Final against Rangers, which Dundee lost 1–0. As Rangers also won the Scottish Premier League, Dundee qualified for the UEFA Cup.

During November 2003 the club went into administration due to the gross financial mismanagement by the club's owners, Peter and Jimmy Marr. Going into administration meant that Dundee lost most of their talented players, but the team battled on and managed to avoid relegation that season. In the following season, however, Dundee struggled with a threadbare squad and were relegated on the last day of the season. Duffy stayed on with the blessing of the board to try to get the club back into the SPL at the first attempt.[6] However, on 24 August 2005, the board then decided to sack Duffy after just four games of the new season, even though Dundee were top of the Scottish First Division.[7]

Director of Football at Hearts

He joined the coaching staff at Hearts at the end of January 2006 and was promoted to Director of Football two weeks later on a contract until the end of the 2005–06 season.[8] Duffy spent barely a month in that position, however, as he was dismissed by the club, along with manager Graham Rix, on 22 March 2006.[9]

Norwich City

On 9 February 2007, Duffy was appointed the Assistant Manager to Peter Grant at Norwich.[10] When Grant left Norwich on 9 October, Duffy was made caretaker manager. But after recording losses against Bristol City, Burnley and WBA he was not awarded the job on a full-time basis. Duffy left Norwich after Glenn Roeder was appointed Norwich manager on 30 October.

Brechin City

Duffy was appointed as Brechin City manager in January 2009, replacing Michael O'Neill, who had left the club to manager Shamrock Rovers a month earlier.[11] Duffy resigned after Brechin were beaten 3–0 on aggregate by Cowdenbeath in the First Division play-offs in May 2010.[12]

Clyde

Duffy was appointed temporary manager of Clyde on 6 February 2011.[13] Duffy appointed his former Partick Thistle teammate Chic Charnley as his assistant two day later.[14] He succeeded in lifting Clyde off the bottom of the Third Division briefly, but finished the season last, and agreed to stay with the club for the 2011–12 season.[15] He was appointed permanent manager on 28 April 2011.[16] Duffy chose to stay at Clyde because of job security in a time where an average managerial reign at a club in Britain lasts approximately less than 15 months and in agreement with the Clyde board, progression on the field would take time for the club .[17]

At the start of the 2011–12 season, Duffy's Clyde defeated his ex managing team Brechin City 4–2 away and East Stirlingshire 7–1. On 1 February 2012, Duffy was appointed on to the club's board.[18] His Clyde team could only muster back-to-back two ninth-place finishes in seasons 2011–12 and 2012–13.[19][20] Nairn County of the Highland League knocked his Clyde team out of the Scottish Cup after a replay in October 2012.[21]

Duffy was awarded manager of the month in League Two for October 2013 after an unbeaten month with Clyde in the league and Scottish Cup,[22] The team stretched that unbeaten run to ten games between October and December,[23] but a 3–1 home defeat to Peterhead on 7 December ended that run.[24] They secured a League Two play-off spot in the penultimate league match of the season with a 4–0 home defeat of Albion Rovers,[25] but were beaten by East Fife after a penalty shootout in the semi-finals.[26] Soon afterwards, Duffy resigned as manager of Clyde to take a similar position at Morton.[27]

Greenock Morton

Duffy took over from Kenny Shiels as Greenock Morton manager on 19 May 2014.[27] He signed a two-year contract with the club.[28] His first match was a 1–0 home win over Spartans in the Scottish Challenge Cup on 26 July 2014.[29] Three wins and a defeat in the league saw Duffy awarded manager of the month in League One for November 2014.[30] His Morton team, however, did suffer a shocker in the Scottish Cup at the hands of Spartans in a 2–1 defeat in November,[31] a Spartans team that had knocked out his former club Clyde in the previous round.[32] He eventually led the Ton to the Scottish League One title which was clinched on the final day in a closely fought contest in the 2014–15 season, his first silverware as a manager.[33] After leading Forfar Athletic on goal difference going into the last game, Morton recovered from 1–0 down against Peterhead to win 3–1 at home on the last day to win the title by three points and clinch automatic promotion to the Scottish Championship.[34]

After successfully keeping Morton in the Championship, Duffy signed a new two-year deal on his 57th birthday,[35] He was awarded the Championship Manager of the Month for October 2016.[36]

After reaching the play-offs, Duffy was nominated for the SPFL Manager of the Year.[37] Whilst he did not win that award, he was named Ladbrokes Championship Manager of the Season in May 2017.[38] Duffy was sacked on 29 April 2018 after a run of defeats saw Morton fail to make the Scottish Premiership playoffs, finishing 7th in the Championship.[39]

Dumbarton

Duffy was appointed Dumbarton manager in October 2018, following the sacking of Stephen Aitken.[40] His first match in charge was a 4–0 victory against East Fife.[41] After a difficult start to his time with the club, the Sons ended the 2018–19 season in sixth place in Scottish League One, losing just twice in their final 15 games. They again finished sixth in the 2019-20 season, which was curtailed by the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Duffy left Dumbarton at the end of the 2020–21 season, when they avoided relegation by winning play-off ties with Stranraer and Edinburgh City.[42]

Ayr United

Duffy joined Ayr United as assistant to David Hopkin, then became caretaker manager in September 2021 when Hopkin resigned.[43] On 1 October, Duffy was appointed Ayr United manager on a permanent basis.[44] Duffy was relieved of his duties on 20 December.[45]

Second spell at Clyde and Director of Football

After eight years, Duffy was re-appointed manager of Clyde on 7 November 2022, replacing long-term manager Danny Lennon.[46] Despite, only losing one of their final six league matches, the Bully Wee were relegated to Scottish League Two after defeat in the playoff final to Annan Athletic. [47]

On 24 May 2023, Clyde announced that Duffy had been promoted to Director of Football as part of 'a review of the football department' with the implementation of a 'new approach'. [48] Three months later, on 18 August 2023, Clyde announced that Duffy had left the club with immediate effect.[49][50]

Personal life

Duffy suffered a heart attack in June 2020.[51]

Achievements

Managerial statistics

As of match played 19 May 2023
Team From To Record
G W D L Win %
Falkirk September 1988 October 1989 53 27 11 15 050.94
Dundee August 1993 December 1996 137 57 42 38 041.61
Hibernian 1 January 1997 31 January 1998 46 8 15 23 017.39
Dundee 4 July 2002 24 August 2005 142 44 38 60 030.99
Brechin City 9 January 2009 19 May 2010 45 18 10 17 040.00
Clyde 6 February 2011 19 May 2014 145 48 29 68 033.10
Greenock Morton 19 May 2014 29 April 2018 181 80 40 61 044.20
Dumbarton 21 October 2018 24 May 2021 94 33 18 43 035.11
Ayr United 9 September 2021 20 December 2021 20 7 6 7 035.00
Clyde 7 November 2022 24 May 2023 29 4 10 15 013.79
Total 892 326 219 347 036.55
  • Initially caretaker and appointed permanently on 1 October 2021
  • Ayr United statistics include 3-0 forfeit Challenge Cup defeat to Rangers B (ineligible player in an initial 3–0 win).

References

  1. ^ "Jim Duffy". fitbastats.com. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  2. ^ Charlie Nicholas and Jim Duffy return to childhood home in Wyndford to launch housing investment, Evening Times, 25 March 2016
  3. ^ Liverpool's Andy Robertson: The people & places behind Scotland defender's rise, BBC Sport, 30 May 2019
  4. ^ "Falkirk FC Managers". Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  5. ^ "Dundee go for Duffy" BBC Sport (4 July 2002)
  6. ^ "Dundee keep faith in boss Duffy" BBC Sport (26 May 2005)
  7. ^ "Dundee move to sack manager Duffy" BBC Sport (25 August 2005)
  8. ^ Gordon, Phil. Duffy promoted over Rix in the latest Tynecastle reshuffle[dead link], The Times, 14 February 2006.
  9. ^ Roberts, Chris. Rix and Duffy are sacked by Hearts, The Independent, 23 March 2006.
  10. ^ "Livermore goes as Duffy takes post". 9 February 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 10 October 2007.
  11. ^ "Duffy confirmed as Brechin boss". BBC Sport. 9 January 2009.
  12. ^ "Jim Duffy resigns as Brechin City manager". BBC Sport. 19 May 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
  13. ^ "Jim Duffy Appointed". Clyde F.C. 6 February 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  14. ^ Chic Joins Clyde Clyde FC. 08-02-2011. 16-04-2014.
  15. ^ "Jim Duffy appointed permanent Clyde manager". BBC Sport. 29 April 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  16. ^ Duffy Appointed Clyde FC. 28-04-2011. 08-05-2015.
  17. ^ Spiers on Saturday: meeting Jim Duffy, a survivor of many clubs Herald Scotland. 30-11-2013. Retrieved 16-04-2014.
  18. ^ "Manager Jim Duffy joins Clyde board". BBC Sport. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  19. ^ Montrose 5–0 Clyde Clyde FC. 06-05-2012. Retrieved 08-05-2015.
  20. ^ Clyde 1-2 Stirling Albion Clyde FC. 04-05-2014. Retrieved 08-05-2015.
  21. ^ Nairn County 3-2 Clyde Clyde FC. 06-10-2012. Retrieved 08-05-2015.
  22. ^ League 2 Manager of the Month Archived 18 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine spfl.co.uk. 15-11-2013. Retrieved 22-12-2013.
  23. ^ Clyde FC results 2013-14 Clyde FC. Retrieved 08-05-2015.
  24. ^ Clyde 1–3 Peterhead Clyde FC. 07-12-2013. Retrieved 16-04-2014.
  25. ^ Clyde 4–0 Albion Rovers Clyde FC. 26-04-2014. Retrieved 08-05-2015.
  26. ^ East Fife 2–1 Clyde (2–2 agg; East Fife win 7–6 on pens BBC Sport. 10-05-2014. Retrieved 08-05-2015.
  27. ^ a b "Jim Duffy leaves Clyde to 'join Morton as manager'". BBC Sport. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  28. ^ Mitchell, Jonathan (20 May 2014). "Duffy wants to bring back glory days to Cappielow". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  29. ^ Greenock Morton 1–0 Spartans BBC Sport. 26-07-2014. Retrieved 08-05-2015.
  30. ^ Duffy wins League One award Archived 30 April 2018 at the Wayback Machine SPFL. 09-12-2014. Retrieved 08-05-2015.
  31. ^ Spartans 2–1 Greenock Morton BBC Sport. 29-11-2014. Retrieved 08-05-2015.
  32. ^ Spartans 2–0 Clyde BBC Sport. 01-11-2014. Retrieved 08-05-2015.
  33. ^ Greenock Morton 3–1 Peterhead BBC Sport. 02-05-2015. Retrieved 08-05-2015.
  34. ^ Jim Duffy salutes players after Morton win title Scotsman. 03-05-2015. Retrieved 08-05-2015.
  35. ^ Mitchell, Jonathan (30 April 2016). "Morton manager signs two-year deal". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  36. ^ a b Mitchell, Jonathan (16 November 2016). "Duffy shares credit for award with staff and squad". Greenock Morton F.C. Archived from the original on 17 November 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  37. ^ a b Burns, Cheri (4 May 2017). "Celtic gaffer Brendan Rodgers up against three rivals for PFA Scotland Manager of the Year award". Daily Record. Glasgow. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  38. ^ a b Mitchell, Jonathan (25 May 2013). "Duffy named Championship manager of the season". Greenock Morton F.C. Archived from the original on 29 April 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  39. ^ "Greenock Morton and Jim Duffy part company". Greenock Morton FC. 29 April 2018. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  40. ^ Galloway, Andy (21 October 2018). "JIM DUFFY IS NEW DUMBARTON MANAGER". Dumbarton Football Club.
  41. ^ Galloway, Andy (27 October 2018). "Dumbarton (4) v East Fife (0)". Dumbarton Football Club. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  42. ^ "Jim Duffy steps down as Dumbarton manager". BBC Sport. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  43. ^ "Ayr United: David Hopkin leaves as manager after six months". BBC Sport. 9 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  44. ^ "Ayr United appoint Jim Duffy as Manager". Ayr United FC. 1 October 2021. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  45. ^ "Ayr United Announces the Departure of Jim Duffy & John Joyce". Ayr United FC. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  46. ^ "Club Statement: Managerial Appointment". Clyde F.C. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  47. ^ "Clyde 1-2 Annan Athletic (2-5 on aggregate): Galabank side earn first League promotion". BBC Sport. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  48. ^ "Jim moves to Director of Football role". Clyde F.C. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  49. ^ "Club Statement". Clyde FC. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  50. ^ "Clyde: Jim Duffy leaves role as director of football". BBC Sport. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  51. ^ "Jim Duffy: Dumbarton boss recovering in hospital after heart attack". BBC Sport. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  52. ^ a b SPFL Monthly Awards Archived 26 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine SPFL. Retrieved 08-05-2015.