JIM Duffy has tipped Darren Barr to extend his football career by as many as five years after the Morton Under-20s coach decided to resume his playing career.

Defender Barr, 32, made a transfer deadline day move to Forthbank to join Stirling Albion after being offered a playing deal.

Barr had been in charge of the development squad at Cappielow but will now revert back to being a player at the Binos.

Morton are already actively seeking a replacement for Barr.
And manager Duffy congratulated Barr for his efforts during his stint with Ton.

Duffy said: “When we brought him in, we brought him with the idea in mind of playing him with the under-20s and to use his experience. He’s done that.

“I think he enjoyed it, but when you find yourself not featuring in the first team, sometimes you think ‘wait a minute, I want to get back playing’.

“I spoke to him a couple of months ago and said to him

‘Maybe you want to think about going on loan somewhere’. That way you can still play on a Saturday but still coach during the week.

“But with the transfer window it’s not as easy as it used to be.

“However, Darren’s a terrific boy and I think he’ll be a terrific coach in the future.

“I think when you play, you should try and play as long as you possibly can.

“And the way he is with his fitness, professionalism - and he doesn’t carry an ounce of weight - he should be able to play comfortably for another four or five years if he wants to.

“He can take up a coaching role any other time he feels like it.

“Getting back playing football is something we’d all love to do and I’m supremely jealous of him.”

Duffy added: “In Darren’s case he’s young enough and good enough to go and play for a good number of years, so we wish him well and thank him for his time here.”