If a cool head and a down-to-earth approach is what Wimbledon are after, then it is clear just from listening to Murdoch that they could hardly be in better hands.
After a playing career featuring one year at Blackpool and the rest in non-League, Murdoch became a teacher and was a primary school headteacher by the time he was 30. But football was always his passion, and he combined teaching with scouting and holiday coaching for Watford. In 1988 he was invited to join the Watford coaching staff full-time.
"I took about two seconds to say yes,'' he remembered. "It was an easy decision. I've been involved in football all my life. It was one of those choices in life where I knew if I turned it down then I'd have regretted it later.
"In my nine years at Watford and five at Wimbledon I've had a number of roles, and many of the skills I've brought to the job were acquired in teaching.''
Typically Murdoch is far too diplomatic to say that dealing with footballers is like dealing with a bunch of kids, although he is sufficiently good fun that you wonder if he might think just that in his private moments.
But he certainly has no illusions about his sudden propulsion into the limelight which began last Saturday when his Dons side beat Stockport County 3-1.
"I'm enjoying the job, but I'm not the sort of person that clubs put into management positions,'' he said.
"I've always been realistic about that. I wasn't a player of any great ability. I've been telling people for years that playing and managing are entirely different, and the skills which make you an international player aren't necessarily any use to a manager.
"But chairmen tend to look for bignamemanagers in the hope they will attract big-name players.''
For now Murdoch's sole aim is to maximise Wimbledon's faint chances of making the play-offs.
"Of course it's not beyond reach,'' he said stoutly. "Three weeks ago when we lost to West Brom you might have thought it was over but since then we've won three and drawn one so the door is open again. But we have to win at Grimsby tomorrow, along with all our remaining games.''
So far as anyone can see, Murdoch will be in charge for the remainder of the campaign.
"Terry's not sure if he'll be back before the end of the season,'' said Murdoch. Then he added cheerfully: "Mind you, if we lose all those games, I could always get sacked before then anyway.''
