HUDDERSFIELD Town sporting director Chris Markham has hailed the 'ambitious' appointment of new head coach Liam Manning - and insists that it represents a move which would not have been 'realistic' six months ago.

After sacking Lee Grant on Saturday evening, Town have moved with alacrity to bring in Manning, who has recently worked with Championship duo Norwich City and Bristol City, with over a third of the League One season still to go.

Manning, 40, who has signed what is described as a ‘long-term contract’, will be assisted by Huddersfield-born Martin Drury, whose previous clubs include Bradford City, who Town welcome in a West Yorkshire derby on Saturday lunch-time.

James Krause, who has worked alongside Manning at several of his previous clubs, arrives as first team coach-analyst.

New Huddersfield Town head coach Liam Manning, pictured during his time at former club Bristol City. (Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images)

placeholder image — New Huddersfield Town head coach Liam Manning, pictured during his time at former club Bristol City. (Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images)

After taking West Country outfit City to the Championship play-offs for the first time in 17 years last season, Manning moved to boyhood club Norwich, but lasted just 17 games before being axed in early November.

It constituted a rare failure for Manning, who guided MK Dons to the League One play-offs in 2022 and subsequently had an eight-month spell at Oxford United, who were second in the third tier when he accepted an offer to move on to Ashton Gate.

Out of football for just two and a half months, Manning has now accepted the challenge at Town and becomes the club's ninth appointment in just over three-and-a-half years.

Manning said: "Being named head coach of Huddersfield Town is an honour, with the size of this opportunity too great to turn down.

Huddersfield Town coaching duo Martin Drury and James Krause, who have arrived at the club alongside Liam Manning. Picture courtesy of HTAFC.

"I am thankful to have been given the trust of such a prestigious role and I’ll do everything in my power to create some positive history of our own.

"Backed by a passionate and invested owner and chairman, there is an excitement and hunger that must be restored in everything that we do and that work starts now."

Regarded as a progressive coach with a strong reputation for player development and being tactically flexible, Manning is assigned with reinvigorating a group of players who have flattered to deceive since the autumn.

Town's travails in being unable to consistently secure positive results against top-10 sides has proved a particular bugbear so far in 2025-26.

On bringing in Manning, his major appointment since coming to the club, Markham commented: "Liam’s appetite and enthusiasm to take this opportunity on has been abundantly clear right from our very first conversation and we’re delighted to welcome him to the club at such a crucial stage in our season, with so much left to play for.

"This recruitment process wasn’t just about finding a good coach, it was as much identifying the right person for Huddersfield Town to fulfil our ambitions both this season and beyond.

"An ambitious appointment that even six months ago would’ve likely been seen as unrealistic, Liam is an impressive person and professional, with his progressive and pragmatic approach to coaching sharing many of the ideals and characteristics that the club, and most importantly our supporters, value highest."