Grayson begins plotting Town’s future shape

A dozen players are sweating over their future due to their current contracts at the Galpharm Stadium being due to expire next month.

Following the Terriers’ play-off success against Sheffield United on Saturday, Grayson plans an overhaul of his squad to ensure the West Yorkshire club are ready for the step up.

The Huddersfield chief, who when Leeds went up from League One in 2010 made 11 signings during the summer, said: “There are quite a few out of contract.

“Sometimes, you have to develop a squad to get out of a division and then you change it around. We will see what is available and what budget we have.”

Among those who are due to fall out of contract by the end of June are Gary Roberts, Alan Lee, Gary Naysmith, Danny Cadamarteri, Tom Clarke, Ian Bennett, Tommy Miller, Nick Colgan and Nathan Clarke.

Now that last night’s civic reception is out of the way, attention is expected to turn fully to what needs to be done to the Town squad.

Chairman Dean Hoyle plans to sit down with Grayson to discuss the budget that will be available for Huddersfield’s first appearance in the second year since 2001.

Grayson said: “Our first aim for next year will be to survive.

“When you are a promoted team, first and foremost you need to focus on staying in that division.

“That doesn’t mean to say that we can’t go on to have a very good season. We have got an ambitious chairman and we have seen teams go straight through the Championship in recent years.”

Norwich City and Southampton are the two teams who went on to claim a second promotion just 12 months after leaving League One as champions.

Of the other four clubs promoted since 2010, Leeds United and Millwall both flirted with the play-offs in their first season up while Brighton finished last season in 10th place and Peterborough United, after beating Town at Old Trafford a year ago, 18th.

Terriers chairman Hoyle said: “We have to be sensible.

“You have to look at Leeds United, Norwich, Millwall and Blackpool. They all went up and did well.

“For Huddersfield, instead of playing smaller teams it will be different. Instead of other clubs rolling into town and thinking, ‘Huddersfield are a decent sized club, let’s take them on’, it will be us rolling into Nottingham, Leeds, Hull, Sheffield, Derby, Blackburn.

“It is a challenge that we are up for.”