LEGENDARY rock band The Libertines are set to release their first album in more than a decade — and a Gourock man has played an important part in their triumphant return.

Following sell-out gigs in front 65,000 people at Hyde Park in London last summer, three sold-out dates at the famous Alexandra Palace and appearances this year at festivals like Glastonbury and T in the Park, the famous four-piece are set to take the wraps off their first studio album since 2004.

One of the key figures behind it all is their manager Adrian Hunter, far right, who hails from Gourock.

He is a close friend of Libertines and Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty, right, and the pair’s relationship was a vital factor in how the band’s eagerly-awaited new album — Anthems for Doomed Youth — came about.

A planned 10-day trip by Adrian to Thailand to visit Pete there ended up lasting seven months — and at the end of it the band were back together armed with an eagerly-anticipated new album.

In an exclusive interview with the Telegraph, Adrian said: “It all started when Peter went to rehab in Thailand.

“I went out there to visit him for 10 days and they seemed to think it was having a positive influence, me being there, and asked me to come back — so a 10-day trip turned into seven months in Thailand.

“My co-manager Dave Bianchi and Carl (Barât) from the band came over to visit, and myself and Peter thought we were going to try and get them to record an album in the studio. But as it turned out they actually told us that they wanted to do it, before we got the chance to ask them.” The band signed a record deal with Virgin over in Thailand and immediately got to work, recruiting what many believed was a strange selection of producer in Jake Gosling — the man behind hits for One Direction and Ed Sheeran.

But it proved a masterstroke according to respected record industry figure Adrian, who can’t wait for the album’s release a week today.

He said: “People thought he was a very odd choice but he turned out to be quite an inspired choice.

“All anybody ever refers to Jake as having done is work with One Direction and Ed Sheeran — he’s probably the most successful producer in the world at the moment.

“But if you look deeper you see he’s got a bit more breadth of experience.” Adrian believes the new Libertines album can be a smash hit, saying the band’s famed songwriting is still ‘as strong as ever.” On top of the new material, Adrian says the band’s resurgence is also enabling him to fulfil lifelong dreams he’s harboured since growing up in Inverclyde.

He said: “When I was a wee boy I used to watch Top of the Pops and when I was old enough I used to go to festivals.

“We’re just back from headlining Leeds, Reading, Rock en Seine and we’ve had a summer of headlining big festivals.

“Headlining T in the Park was a dream come true and the record’s coming out.

“Now I just want the band to have a top 10 record and if they do I’ll be delighted, so fingers crossed.” But the modest music maestro, who still lives in Gourock, refuses to take credit for the rebirth of one of the UK’s most iconic bands.

Asked if he has played a key role, Adrian, who also manages Scots rockers The View, said: “No, I wouldn’t see it that way at all because that would be incredibly egotistical and I don’t really hold with those kind of thoughts.

“What I’m most proud about is that I’ve been part of a team and I need to give great credit to my co-manager Dave Bianchi and obviously the band as well.

“It’s quite a special thing to be part of, I feel very privileged to be part of it and to have made this record and spent all that time out there.

“I didn’t go out there to make a record, I went out there to help my pal.” l A special preview of the new Libertines album takes place in Greenock tonight, with local DJs McD and Ed McGill hosting a free event in The Albany from 9pm.