Huddersfield Town have handed a rolling contract to Chris Powell, who has succeeded the sacked Mark Robins as manager.
Former Rotherham United, Barnsley and Coventry City boss Robins left the club by mutual consent on 10 August, just a day after they lost their first game of the season 4-0 at home to Bournemouth. Mark Lillis was then placed in caretaker charge, but he has only been able to lead his team to four points from a possible 12 in the Championship.
This leaves the Terriers fourth bottom of the ladder after five games, but they will hope the appointment of Powell will see a marked improvement. The 44-year-old led Charlton Athletic to the League One title in 2012, his first full season in charge, and then in the 2012-13 campaign he guided The Valley side to a respectable ninth-place finish.
However, he was sacked in March last season when a poor sequence of results left the Londoners bottom of the second-tier; a situation his successor, Jose Riga, managed to rescue. Powell is now back in the game after being given a rolling contract at Huddersfield, and he aims to make the people of the Yorkshire town proud of their team.
“I’m extremely happy,” he said. “When I had my first interview and met the chairman and the chief executive, I was very impressed with their vision. I’m honoured to be the man chosen to lead Huddersfield forward. It was right to bring it to this point – an international break where players can recharge and the chosen applicant would have enough time with the team leading up to the next Championship game. I’m very honoured to be the one sitting in this seat.
“There’s a good squad here already with lots of experience, potential and some good young players. The loan window opens so hopefully there’ll be a chance to move a few players – some hopefully coming in and maybe some who need to go and play some football and get some experience. I’m sure we’ll have a really competitive squad, then come January if we’re able to enquire about players and bring players in permanently then we’ll do that.
“Looking at the side, we just want to be a competitive side in the Championship. It’s been a tough two seasons but we’ve stayed in the Championship. I think we just want to overachieve as such and move forward as a club that can really be a good competitive side. It’s a tough league. I’m not going to make any promises – all I can say is that my team, whatever game they’re playing in, they’ll compete. They’ll be a team full of character, honesty and play their football. They’ve got to make themselves, each other and the town proud.”
Huddersfield fans, what do you make of Powell’s appointment? And what are your targets for the season? Let us know your thoughts by joining in the discussion below!
