Murdo Mackay

Murdo Mackay, born in 1956, is a Scottish businessman and sports agent known for his work in football management and recruitment. He served as the director of football at Derby County F.C. from October 2003 to March 2006. In July 2009, he was convicted of fraudulently claiming money from the club by falsely reporting commission on a loan deal, leading to a three-year prison sentence.

Mackay grew up in Glasgow, supporting Rangers F.C., and had a career spanning football playing, coaching, and acting as a player agent. He represented the majority of the Rangers first team squad during the 1990s. His business ventures were marked by failures, including bankruptcy in 1996 due to his recruitment agency MMK Associates and the subsequent liquidation of Inside Soccer Recruitment in 2001.

At Derby County, Mackay was involved in a takeover of the club in 2003 as part of a group led by John Sleightholme. He played a role in attracting investment and recruiting players but had conflicts with management, including George Burley, who resigned in 2005. Further disputes with the CEO led to his resignation in December 2005, though he later stayed after claiming no written resignation was submitted.

Mackay faced fraud charges in 2007 alongside others from Derby County. After being found guilty, he and Andrew Mackenzie were sentenced to three years in prison in July 2009, with the sentence reduced to 18 months on appeal in January 2010.