'I will be watching' - Kevin Nagle makes fresh vow and fires warning to Huddersfield Town players
Kevin Nagle fires warning to Huddersfield Town players after fresh League One blow
Kevin Nagle has warned the underperforming Huddersfield Town squad he will be watching the season finale at AFC Wimbledon “very carefully”.
Since the American’s purchase of the West Yorkshire club in 2023, there has been a painful decline on the pitch. Relegation from the Championship was confirmed a year later and Huddersfield have since failed to secure a top-six finish across back-to-back League One campaigns.
Shortcomings were laid bare at the weekend, as Mansfield Town ran riot at the Accu Stadium and emerged as 4-1 victors.
Nagle rarely shies away from making his feelings known and took to social media to face the music. Posting on X after the game, the owner fired a warning to the players in the Terriers ranks.
Kevin Nagle fires warning
Addressing fans, he said: “In three years, I’ve come to know the football you want to see. And it’s the same football I want to see. Big, physical, front-footed, aggressive, and able to hold leads late in the match. But most importantly, players that play for the badge on the front, not the name on the back.
“I have, as you know, spent a ton of money on players the last three years, that isn’t the issue. But going forward, we will be smart. We will be tactical. We will bring players in to fit our system, not move the system to fit our players. There is nothing I can say to you at this point, no magic wand I can wave to make it right. At this point, actions and results are all that matter.
“There are some both within and outside this organisation that will be rubbed the wrong way by this statement, and frankly I don’t care. My responsibility is to you, the supporter, to ensure we have done all we can do make your trip home from the Accu Stadium on matchday a pleasant and satisfying journey. I will be watching, (as will our front office team), next weekend’s match very carefully.
“We will see who is playing for the shirt...and who is ready to go on vacation. Thank you, and as always your continued support means everything. We will get there, or we will die trying.”
‘No more flashy promises’
Nagle also insisted there will be “no more flashy promises” as Huddersfield look to stop the rot and rectify the mistakes of the last three seasons.
He said: “I don’t need to tell any of you, our supporters, that today was absolutely unacceptable, as we near the end of a season that was incredibly disappointing.
“Though I have been advised to wait until after our final match to say this publicly, I’m not big on being ‘handled’. I am the chairman and the blame lies with me ultimately, and I don’t want to wait another second to let you know how disappointed I am. I am not interested in the blame game. Blame me. That’s fine, I’m the one in the big chair.
“We have secured the stadium. We have reinvigorated our academy at great cost, so that we may reap the benefits in our future. We just watched our Town Women play the type of football and achieve the type of success I wish our men’s team emulated. But wishing vs reality are two different things.
“So here it is - no more flashy promises. After this statement, no more flashy words. We, starting with myself, David Threlfall-Sykes (chief operating officer), and our staff, will work day and night this off-season to get it right.”