Next Huddersfield Town manager: Former Bristol City boss ‘under consideration’

Former Bristol City head coach Dean Holden has emerged as a contender for the vacant Huddersfield Town job, after they sacked Mark Fotheringham on Wednesday.

The Robins' Championship rivals are on the search for their fourth manager of the season after Carlos Corberan left just weeks before the league campaign was due to begin. They appointed Danny Schofield as caretaker manager, who oversaw nine matches before he was relieved of his duties. Fotheringham lasted 21 matches, and he won just five of those, before being relieved of his duties after a 2-2 draw with relegation rivals Blackpool on Tuesday.

A report from the DailyMail says that Holden is under consideration, and there is an admiration from Huddersfield as to how he has managed Charlton, amidst uncertainty over their ownership. Holden has only been in the job at The Valley for 51 days, but has inspired them to four wins out of their last five League One matches, with their only blemish being a defeat to promotion-chasing Bolton Wanderers.

The 43-year-old is only under contract at Charlton until the end of the season as per the South London Press, and so Huddersfield wouldn't need to pay a massive compensation package. He had been out of work since leaving Stoke City at the start of September, taking charge of the Potters for one match after Michael O'Neill's sacking, which later led to the Staffordshire outfit appointing Sunderland boss Alex Neil.

Holden had not held a permanent position as a manager after his sacking by Bristol City in February 2021 until his appointment at Charlton in December. He had been linked with numerous jobs, and was favourites amongst the bookmakers for various roles, but it was the Addicks who eventually gave him an opportunity.

Assistant coach Narcis Pelach will take charge of Huddersfield next match against relegation rivals Wigan Athletic, before the Yorkshire club make a decision on who should succeed Fotheringham. They are currently 22nd in the league standings and are a point adrift of safety, with a game in hand over 21st-placed Cardiff City.

Should Holden be appointed as Huddersfield manager, the Terriers play City on Tuesday, March 7. The tie was due to be played on Saturday, January 28, but it was postponed as a result of City's progression in the FA Cup.