One more year, Sharon. Neil Warnock has agreed to remain in charge of Huddersfield Town for the 2023-24 campaign and there couldn’t have been better news for Terriers fans.
The 74-year-old guided Huddersfield to Championship safety last term to pull off an escape that seemed almost impossible, even with the points deductions that the EFL dealt out to relegated duo Reading and Wigan Athletic.
Arriving in February after Huddersfield’s two failed appointments in Danny Schofield and Mark Fotheringham, Warnock picked up 50% of the club’s league wins with seven from the 15 matches he oversaw.
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In that run, only seven sides in the division picked up more points than Huddersfield and only five won more games. It’s a testament to the veteran’s vast experience in the dugout and his skills as a motivator. His famous quote, “You’ve got to f***ing die to get three points” is iconic and it's this passionate mantra that kept Huddersfield up.
Before he rejoined the club in February there was no hope for the side. The players were drained of any confidence and they couldn’t string a run of results together. They were floundering and heading for League One.
It was strange to see all this unfold given that in May 2022 they were one game away from the Premier League in the play-off final at Wembley. If anything, it proves just how much of an incredible job Carlos Corberan did to get the team into that position.
Warnock guided Huddersfield through a rough patch, with the club strapped for cash and seeking new ownership. American businessman Kevin Nagle is edging closer to taking over the Yorkshire outfit from Dean Hoyle and there have already been some key personnel changes behind the scenes.
Leigh Bromby left his role as sporting director on Tuesday after nine years at the club, while Jake Edwards has been appointed as the new chief executive. The foundations are being put in place to turn the Terriers’ fortunes around but a tough season lies in wait for them in 2023-24.
That is why tying down Warnock for another year made perfect sense. The impact he had on the dressing room, performances and results last year was immense. And during this transitional period, it was good to keep consistency on the football side of the business.
He built a rapport between the players and fans and completely changed the mood in HD1. Had he not agreed to stay, he would’ve left a tough act to follow, something which the club hierarchy understood.
By continuing the adventure, Warnock’s extended stay offers structure to the squad and there is now that sense of familiarity between manager and players that should serve Huddersfield well in pre-season and for the beginning of the new term.
With the 24-club roster confirmed for the upcoming Championship, it has been described as the toughest season in years. It looks like it will be just as challenging to stay up as it is to get promoted. Warnock is a character who thrives in those circumstances. Before pulling off the great escape at the John Smith’s Stadium in 2022-23, Warnock had helped several clubs stave off relegation going as far back as 1993.
Of course he isn’t going to be the figure to lead the club for years into the future. But his influence at the John Smith's has gone a long way in the past few months and will continue to bring comfort to everyone associated with Huddersfield during this phase of change.
And let’s be honest, the game is a much better place with Warnock in it. His interesting character has been entertaining us for years and to have the show keep rolling for another year is great to see.
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