Following a very challenging season, Huddersfield Town has been dropped to League One.
Last season, the Terriers were on the verge of elimination until Neil Warnock’s tardiness prevented it.
This time, with the team facing relegation once more, Huddersfield looked to German coach Andre Breitenreiter to turn things around. However, even though the team was five points above the drop when he took over as manager in February, Breitenreiter was unable to save the season.
| Championship standings 2023/24 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | P | GD | Pts | |
| 17 | Stoke City | 46 | -11 | 56 |
| 18 | QPR | 46 | -11 | 56 |
| 19 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | -14 | 53 |
| 20 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | -24 | 53 |
| 21 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | -11 | 51 |
| 22 | Birmingham City (R) | 46 | -15 | 50 |
| 23 | Huddersfield Town (R) | 46 | -29 | 45 |
| 24 | Rotherham United (R) | 46 | -52 | 27 |
Breitenreiter left the team by mutual accord when the team was demoted, and the Terriers appointed his replacement without delay.
The John Smith’s Stadium will now be coached by Michael Duff, a former manager of Swansea City and Barnsley who was confirmed earlier this week by the Terriers.
Prior to this, Duff managed 92 games in the third division, with a record of 39 victories, 25 draws, and 28 defeats.
The 46-year-old will be hoping that his Huddersfield Town team can advance farther than his Barnsley team from 2022–2023, who lost to Sheffield Wednesday in the play-off final at Wembley and were not promoted to the Championship.
It will undoubtedly be a hectic summer ahead with Duff in charge, but we’ve listed a few things that would make the new Terriers manager quite pleased below.
George Byers signs
Early in his time at Huddersfield Town, Duff would have been pleased if Sheffield Wednesday player George Byers had been signed.
Huddersfield is reportedly in the running to sign the 27-year-old from the Owls this summer. He is reportedly considering his options in front of the upcoming campaign, according to a recent story from The Star.
After spending the second half of 2023–24 on loan at third-tier Blackpool, Byers’s career at Hillsborough seemed to be in jeopardy.
According to reports, Huddersfield is hoping to capitalise on this, and adding a player with Byers’ calibre and level of experience would be a great way to start the window.
In addition, if they were to sign him, they would have defeated Birmingham City, who might challenge the team for promotion the following season.
Getting a decent fee for Sorba Thomas
Naturally, the team may lose several of its better players—Sorba Thomas included—after being demoted to League One.
Thomas recorded four goals and nine assists in 41 Championship games. While those totals are not very high, they do demonstrate that Thomas is more than capable of competing at the Championship level.
Therefore, it’s possible that the 25-year-old may draw interest from other teams this summer. If that happens, Duff’s best chance is that his future is decided quickly and the team will get a respectable transfer fee.
Even though Huddersfield would really like to have Thomas in the League One team, it does not appear feasible. If their valuation is satisfied, the Terriers should attempt to cash in as soon as possible.
By doing this, Duff would be able to concentrate on the players who will still be with the team for the upcoming season and, more crucially, make investments in fresh talent who would support their efforts in League One.
Jack Rudoni stays
Finally, but just as importantly, the incoming Terriers manager would be ecstatic if Jack Rudoni remained.
Whether or not that is a realistic option is up for debate, but regardless, Rudoni would be a great addition for the team the next season in the third division and seem to fit Duff’s playing philosophy well.
The 22-year-old thrived in the third division before joining Huddersfield in the first place, scoring 12 goals and dishing out five assists for AFC Wimbledon in 2021/22.
Don’t get us wrong, Rudoni is under contract at The John Smith’s Stadium for a further two years, and Huddersfield has an option for a further year. However, it’s likely that a number of teams will be scouting him this summer.
In any case, that deal gives them leverage over him going forward, and should he leave, he is another player who may fetch a respectable transfer fee to help Duff rebuild. Win-win situation.
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