THE significance of a decision is never truly realised until it is followed through.

Scunthorpe United's latest signing Mark Duffy knows that better than most, having almost turned down the chance to move into league football.

After his release from Liverpool's youth academy, the young attack-minded midfielder moved into multi-sports coaching for the council.

Playing part-time for Southport as well, the diminutive Duffy was offered a second crack at the sport by Morecambe.

"It was harder leaving that to go to Morecambe because I had such a good thing going," said the 25-year-old.

"Once I was let go at Liverpool – it seemed like I had been there for a lifetime – I went into the wilderness of the non-leagues.

"You are playing and it is all off the cuff. You do think to yourself, is it worth it?

"I thought to myself, if I go to Morecambe and it doesn't work, will I be able to get back into my job?

"But you have got to make these decisions, and it has paid off."

Despite Conor Sammon thinking otherwise, Duffy believed the chance to join United was too good to miss.

"It was an easy decision," he insisted.

"It is a win-win situation.

"I can come and play at a level where, three or four years ago, I thought I would never play at.

“Chances like this only come round once maybe in a lifetime, if your lucky you get another chance.

“As soon as I heard of the interest from them, I went into the gaffer’s room straight away and said: ‘you understand it is hard to leave this club because I have got so many great friends here, friends for life’.

“But at the same time they all know why I had to leave – because this is just too good an opportunity to pass.”

The first chance to make an impact comes tomorrow, with an appearance in front of the Sky cameras in a clash with Burnley at Glanford Park.

It is a debut which holds no fear, even with an increased audience of millions watching from home.

“I have played a few times (on television),” said Duffy, who has also been on the books of Prescot Cables and Vauxhall Motors.

“I was in the play-offs last year and we (Morecambe) got hammered so it was not too good an experience.

“But you don’t realise the cameras are there, you probably realise in the warm-ups but as soon as the whistle blows, you are concentrating on the field.

“Everyone will be watching, but it is just another game and we need three points.”