Today it was announced that Huddersfield Town had broken tactics with manager Darren Moore.
The decision came after the Terriers’ 1-1 draw with similarly relegation-threatened QPR on Sunday in what was a must win game.
A win would have moved Huddersfield to within six points of the relegation zone, but Kenneth Paul’s 95th-minute equaliser for QPR cancelled out Jack Rudoni’s goal ten minutes earlier. The result puts the Yorkshire side just three points above the relegation zone, and all three teams below them have caught up with them in recent weeks.
With just one win in their last 11 league games, it’s easy to see the reason for this decision. Moore had only been in charge since Sept. 21 after Neil Warnock stepped down as coach and it’s an era he probably wouldn’t be performing in. Don’t forget it fondly.
Meanwhile, Moore would oversee 23 games and win just three. Although during his tenure he has seen his team draw 11 times, draws do not matter at the back of the table and the club craves victories to bolster their hopes of survival.
Huddersfield enthusiasts will be hoping that the replacement at the controls can do just that and spark a winning streak.
The job is no doubt an attractive offer given the size and stature of the club, and if able to keep the Terriers in the division this season, then whoever does come in will be able to reap the rewards.
With that in mind, here are five applicants for the Huddersfield position. . .
Paul Heckingbottom
Heckingbottom has been the overwhelming favorite for the task lately and that’s not too unexpected given his credentials. Having led Sheffield United to promotion to the Premier League last season, the 46-year-old has already more than proven his level.
He was sacked by the Blades in early December when the team was in the relegation zone, but faced the near-task of keeping them within their budget this year compared to others in the most sensible flight.
Heckingbottom will most likely return to his task very soon and can possibly lead the Terriers into a positive future if he manages to keep them afloat this season.
Michael Duff
Having missed out on the Shrewsbury job, Duff is still on the market after being dismissed by Swansea in December. He’s also been heavily linked with League One strugglers Charlton Athletic, however the manager may have higher ambitions.
Duff has a knack for galvanising a team, as his spells at Cheltenham Town and Barnsley showed. His time may not have worked out with Swansea, but he maintains many prospects at this level.
It would be more of a long-term task if Duff were to arrive, but he also has the talent to keep the club afloat this season.
Jean Eustache
One guy who has potentially been linked with any and all vacancies in the Championship and even League One this season is John Eustace and rightly so given his paintings in Birmingham.
Having been controversially sacked by the Blues, despite reaching the play-offs, Eustace has been out of work ever since. Bringing in Wayne Rooney was one of the worst management decisions in the history of the second tier, and one that backfired hugely for the club.
Eustace is sure he’ll have some other chance at this level, and it turns out it’s only a matter of time before he discovers a task again.
Sam Allardyce
A potential curveball in the list, helping clubs to survival in tricky positions is something that Allardyce is most well-known for. Although he’s potentially got his sights set on a Premier League job, many teams could be put off by his tenure at Leeds United.
It would be a loss of elegance for the former West Ham manager
It would seem that if he were appointed, he would be more focused on survival this season than the future, but he may still be a smart option for the club.
Pete Salvaje
If you thought Allardyce was a curveball, think again as Wild represents potentially an even riskier appointment. With no managerial experience higher than in League Two with Barrow, Wild would go in to the job with no experience at the level.
That said, the paints he has done with Barrow are nothing short of incredible, with the club lately occupying fourth position in Ligue 2, one point off the automatic positions. With one of the smallest budgets in the division, the feat is all the more impressive.
Indeed, it would be an ambitious move given their past experience, but with the long term in mind, it is possible that Huddersfield will continue. We’ve already noticed that Swansea dipped into League Two to get Luke Williams from County Notts and the Terriers could stay. to that decision.
Leeds United take a decision after the rejection of the offer
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