Why did Carlos Corberan quit Huddersfield Town? Terriers struggle to keep up with the speed of progress as Spaniard catches the resignation bug

Unlike the politicians, the 39-year-old chose not to lay out his reasons in an excoriating open letter, just a polite goodbye once it was accepted and confirmed on Thursday.

Danny Schofield was promoted in his place just 22 days before Huddersfield start the new season earlier than anyone else in the country bar July 29 opponents Burnley.

Without a proper explanation, we can only speculate the wonky alignment was over the Championship club’s direction - or rather speed of travel - after last season’s third-place finish and play-off final.

The hope was that because it was achieved with essentially a team of unglamorous free transfers supplemented by the odd loan, the vultures might not rip it apart as voraciously as usual.

Lee Nicholls signed a new contract, as did Sorba Thomas, but Nottingham Forest are not only showing an interest in Lewis O’Brien but also Harry Toffolo.

Corberan was never one for standing still. He will have wanted to add to his prize assets with signings a level up from the brilliantly-identified freebies. Head of football operations Leigh Bromby said the focus would be on the attack - the expensive bit.

Like the players Bromby and co unearthed, Corberan was also unheralded when he joined from Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United backroom two years ago. He had managed in Saudi Arabia and Cyprus but his was hardly a CV that demanded a top job. It was another masterstroke.

He came, essentially, with Bielsaball except Corberan came to realise it needed pragmatism to flourish. The Championship’s leakiest defence in 2020-21 became its most watertight in 2021-22 through shrewd recruitment - Bromby’s department - and excellent coaching - Corberan’s.

The result was a promotion push which logic told you could not last the distance but went all the way to Wembley where despite not being at their best, Town were two contentious VAR decisions from victory.

This summer’s three signings - two announced on Wednesday - followed the same formula.

Bromby spoke of Connor Mahoney’s potential but he is a 25-year-old attacker with as many clubs as goals across 140 games. It could be another very good signing but like fellow free agents Will Boyle and David Kasumu, not a next level one.

Balancing ambition with financial reality is difficult in the first summer in five without Premier League cash, but perhaps Corberan felt he had earned more of the former.

The system got Huddersfield to that position, and it is the system they rely on now with an internal appointment.

But when the system performs to its absolute maximum, losing such a vital cog is huge. Leeds showed under Bielsa, as Sheffield United did under Chris Wilder and Barnsley with Valerien Ismael, a modestly-assembled team can be dragged an awfully long way by a special coach.

Without Corberan it will be a lot more difficult.