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Have your say: Axed Leeds chief Grayson in the frame for Town
Town have relieved manager Lee Clark of his duties.
Lee Clark is considering taking Huddersfield Town to court for unfair dismissal following his sacking yesterday.
The 39-year-old was relieved of his duties because the club did not believe he could deliver them automatic promotion.
Town dropped to fourth in League One on Tuesday, four points adrift of the top two, following a 1-0 home defeat to promotion rivals Sheffield United.
Clark, who left his role at Norwich to succeed Stan Ternent at the Galpharm Stadium on December 12, 2008, could launch an unfair dismissal case via the League Managers’ Association.
It is understood his three-year stint at the club came to an end yesterday morning following a short, sharp telephone exchange with the club’s hierarchy.
Clark said last night: “I am very perplexed as to why I was dismissed. Needless to say I am extremely disappointed and shocked considering that, with just 16 games left, we are in a such great position to compete for automatic promotion.”
Recently axed Leeds United manager Simon Grayson, former Terriers chief Neil Warnock and former Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies are among the early front-runners for the job.
Academy manager Mark Lillis has been placed in temporary charge with the club expected to make an appointment before their next game, at home against Exeter, on Saturday week.
Whoever chairman Dean Hoyle names to succeed Clark, it is clear their remit will be to mastermind promotion to the Championship via a top-two place in the remaining 16 games.
Senior figures at Huddersfield were tight-lipped yesterday but in the brief statement they did release it was made apparent that they had lost faith in Clark’s ability to get the club out of League One.
The North East native twice took Town to the play-offs, losing in the semi-finals to Millwall in the 2009-10 season and then to Peterborough United in the 2010-11 final at Old Trafford.
That defeat was the only league loss the Terriers suffered in nearly 11 months. Clark will be best remembered for overseeing a regular-season record unbeaten Football League run of 43 games that stretched from January 1 to November 28, 2011.
Leaders Charlton ended that sequence, with Tuesday’s defeat to another promotion rival in the Blades strengthening the club’s belief that Clark failed to deliver in the big games.
Hoyle said in a statement yesterday: “This was a very difficult decision, one not taken lightly or in response to one result. Concerns have been raised over recent weeks. Lee and his coaching staff have put their all into the job over the past three seasons and he has made a huge contribution to the club.
“However, with 16 matches to go we still have an opportunity to achieve promotion and we have made this change with this in mind. Huddersfield Town would like to place on record its thanks to Lee and his coaching staff and wish them all the best for the future.”
Clark spent one of the most generous wage and transfer budgets in the division on assembling a squad that repeatedly fell short.
Nevertheless, he was constantly linked to jobs at higher clubs and the fact that he failed to unreservedly commit his future to Town amid such speculation will not have endeared him to the Huddersfield board.
Clark was connected to the recent job at Leicester City before it went to Nigel Pearson and remains in the frame for the vacant position at neighbours Leeds.
Clark’s odds to become the next manager of Leeds dropped from an opening 14-1 to 4-6 on yesterday’s news but the Yorkshire Post understands the Elland Road club have not lined him up as Grayson’s successor.
Grayson taking on the challenge at the Galpharm Stadium, on the other hand, is conceivable given he has twice orchestrated promotions from League One – with Blackpool in 2006-07 and Leeds in 2009-10.
Grayson is second favourite for the Town job behind former Sheffield United manager Warnock, who led Huddersfield to a promotion from the third division in 1994-95. Warnock has also been heavily linked to the positions at Leeds and Wolves.
Davies has been out of work since losing his job as Forest manager last summer. Of the other names in the frame, Mark Robins, at 16-1, left Barnsley last summer while former Hull City manager Phil Brown (14-1) was a recent guest at the Terriers’ home game with MK Dons.
Lillis is embarking on his third spell as a caretaker manager, having previously filled the void at Derby in 2002 and Stockport two years later.
Lillis made 206 appearances for Huddersfield from 1978-85.
The former Halifax Town manager (1999-2000) returned to the Galpharm in late December to take up the role of academy manager.
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Comments
There are 10 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
DennisHTAFC
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 05:28 PMSpot on markohtfc. I am sick and tired of hearing about how bad LC has been treated, mostly by people who do not know the first thing about Huddersfield Town. Personally, I think that Hoyle has been extremely loyal to LC, and given him far more time than most chairman would. All this nonsense about unfair dismissal -Why? Haven't managers been sacked after winning La Liga or getting to the final of the Champions League? Did they claim unfair dismissal? LC's Huddersfield were going nowhere as Clark had no idea of his best team or best tactics, especially at home where we were clueless on how to break teams down who had just come 'to park the bus'. Have faith in Deano, he will get the right man to take us up.
IRVERINO
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 04:26 PMLEE CLARK HAD 3 YEARS 2 MONTHS, A BOAT LOAD OF CASH, MORE BACKROOM STAFF THAN MAN CITY OR MADONNA, FULL BACKING OF THE BOARD!! WEVE GONE UP THE LEAGUE A FEW PLACES SINCE HE CAME, HE'S GONNA BE ANOTHER NORTH-EAST JOURNEY MAN LIKE, STEVE BRUCEBRIAN ROBSON. BUT, WILL GET LOADS OF JOBS & HOLIDAY'S & OH YEAH, PAY OFFS. COMMENT NO 4 AGREES & HE SUPPORTS A TEAM THAT HASN'T WON AT TOWN FOR 40 YEARS.
markohtfc
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 09:16 AMTo the outside world, this is craziest football decision ever. Everyone is looking at the 43 game unbeaten run, 4th in the league and thinking its a disgrace however for those closer to the club, including some of the Media, whist still a shock, it wasnt as big a deal as many are making out. Significantly backed financially Free reign on Signing - An astronomical amount in his time History of signing players, then pushing them out into the wilderness Not addressed the frailties of last season Biggest tactical mess up in football dropping Jordan Rhodes for the playoff final - Then getting tonked 3-0 Signed nearly a whole new team considering they had got a record number of points without going up Unable to keep a settled side, swapping and changing every week Some very inept performances, especially at home Home attendances falling aggressive media interviews, just watch and listen to them The Leicester Job...... The Leeds job (rumoured to have spoken to Leeds without Deans permission) I'm not saying he hasn't progressed the club at all and we have some great memories but then considering the investment, a must win game against Sheff Utd and we are favourites for playoffs again. I think Dean Hoyles only mistake really was not letting him Walk after the play off final. They could have parted on amicable terms but now it will probably end up in court
lowfields71
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 06:49 PMSimon Grayson would do a great job for any club, good luck to him even if is the dog botherers he ends up at. He could end up in the opposition dug out next year at er and you can guarantee the reception he receives surpasses that for any returning ex LUFC legend (for promotion and 0301 he will always be that at ER). In Grayson we did trust !
Flightowl
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:24 PMCould either club do better than Mark Robins, last of Barnsley and until recently looking for a job? Not a chairman's favourite, though.
wakeyup67
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 02:22 PMTotally agree with LUFCQuej, Graysons hands were tied, never stood a chance and neither will the future manager at Leeds. Huddersfield chairman on the other hand backed his manager with more than enough cash and deserves to win promotion. Grayson could do a good job at Huddersfield, my only criticism is that he should have stood up for himself more, comes across as being a bit week but hey ho, if you want to keep your job you have to tow the party line... Still believe that Warnock is the man though, HT chairman will pay the right price for the right man.
LUFCQuej
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 01:41 PMPlease God, not Clark for Leeds !!!! He has achieved absolutely nothing at Huddersfield with a LOT of money for that division. In fact a LOT of money even by championship standards. I was not suprised to see him go tbh. I would have sacked him at the end of last season. Huddersfield would do a lot worse than appoint Grayson. He has quite frankly achieved miracle at Leeds considering he has had to di it all with his Chairman working against him and the club. A great manager who deserves to be given a good job with a chairman who will back him instead of a chairman who is only interested in asset stripping his club.
wakeyup67
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 01:28 PMThree views here from a Leeds fan: 1. Huddersfield chairman has authorised spending levels on players which goes well beyond any other league one club and even most in the championship including Leeds, so thinks automatic promotion is a minimum acceptable return. 2. Huddersfield chairman is a dreamer who thinks his club are bigger than they are. 3. Huddersfield chairman has seen an opportunity to land the one available football manager guaranteed to win promotion not only to the championship, but also to the premier league, Neil Warnock. I suspect all three views may be true and I wouldn't blame the chairman for any of them.
Steve L
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 11:14 AMUnbelievable that Clark was sacked, amazed that Grayson was sacked, Look at McCarthy, let down by his players and then his chairman on the same day. Who's next - Ferguson for finishing second? Decisions like this by chairmen who are absolute dreamers does help in picking teams you want to get relegated. QPR and Wolves are my hopes for the Premiership drop. No way do I want Huddersfield to get up now! That Villas Boas will be looking for a job in a couple of months, if either chairman has 100 million for him to spend he might be worth a punt!
Flightowl
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 09:20 AMThe sacking of Lee Clarke is an absolute scandal, and at this rate all 92 league managers are at risk. Lxxds could do a lot worse, but would he work for another dodgy chairman?
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