Owls chief backing for sacked Terriers manager

Clark’s dismissal at Huddersfield Town on Wednesday lunchtime added a surprise twist to this season’s race from promotion in League One.

Megson said: “I feel sorry for Lee and all his staff. I hope it doesn’t turn out that some manager, who is maybe not in work at the moment, has got into the people at Huddersfield and, for want of a better phrase, stabbed Lee in the back and then turns up with all his own staff.

“I sincerely hope that has not happened,” he added. “I am manager of Sheffield Wednesday – and it’s not really for me to get involved – but it just shows the nature of the game. You don’t like to see any manager lose his job.”

Clark was sacked after Tuesday night’s 1-0 home defeat by Sheffield United but Town are still only four points adrift of second spot, having lost only three games this season.

The former Newcastle United and Sunderland midfielder, 39, has been linked with a possible move to Leeds but is not believed to be in the Championship club’s thinking. He is also threatening legal action against Town for unfair dismissal.

Neil Warnock, still regarded as a hero by Town supporters after leading the club to promotion and two appearances at Wembley during a two-year spell as manager in the mid-Nineties, is the bookmakers’ favourite.

He has not ruled out a second spell at the club, saying: “I know everyone up there knows what I think about Huddersfield Town and I hope some good comes from it.

“I don’t think Lee will be long out of a job and I hope Huddersfield get the right man to fulfil the club’s ambitions. I have got seven promotions and I want one for the (league) record. I have had some interesting calls.”

Other out-of-work contenders in the frame include former Leeds manager Simon Grayson, former Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies and former Barnsley manager Mark Robins.

Academy manager Mark Lillis is in temporary charge of the first-team and Town being without a weekend game due to scheduled opponents Stevenage still being in the FA Cup means the board has time to consider their next move.

Whoever is handed the reins will have 16 games to keep Town, whose next game is at home to Exeter a week tomorrow, in the hunt for automatic promotion.