But the incumbent coach is stepping down from leading the club’s Southern League team next season.
"I just need a break," Murray said.
"It’s been a pretty full-on last ... four years. Just getting it to a place and getting it up and going.
"It’s been a long process and a lot of work behind the scenes to get it to where we’re at.
"There’s still a heap more to go, but time to step away a little bit and let some other take over that side of things and have a go.
"Plus, probably just a different voice for the players is quite good as well."
Murray is the third Royals coach stepping down next season.
Assistant coach Tim Horner, who has been with the men’s side for several seasons, and women’s coach Graeme Smaill are also taking a break. Men’s manager Julie Collings is also stepping away.
Under Murray’s leadership, the Royals finished third in the Southern League in 2021, fourth in 2022 and 2023, and seventh this year.
They were the highest-ranked Otago team during that tenure, and also won the southern premier league and made the Chatham Cup quarterfinals in 2022.
The Royals were formed as a merger involving Dunedin Technical, Caversham — where Murray started coaching in 2011 — Melchester Rovers and Hereweka.
Murray was "absolutely" proud to see the Royals’ growth in the past few years through the teething period.
"The merger was tough," Murray said.
"We lost several people who didn’t quite agree with it, who had been with all four clubs ... for a long time, which was really sad.
"We had to do that justice, and make sure we did it right, and really it is a survival thing with sports clubs these days.
"It’s just so tough out there. I’m quite proud that we’ve got to this point."
The Royals started their academy earlier this year, which had been one of Murray’s long-held goals for the club.
Murray still intended to be involved with the club through the academy and wanted to help build on getting the balance between the elite side and the academy right for the future of the club.
