Huddersfield Town interim boss makes ‘pretty special’ comment as Liam Manning return unknown

Stead returned to the Terriers in January as first-team coach

Huddersfield Town interim boss Jon Stead says it has been “pretty special” to have been in charge for the final seven matches of the League One campaign.

Stead returned to the Terriers in January as first-team coach as part of Liam Manning’s backroom staff, but stepped up with Martin Drury to take the side during the run-in after Town’s head coach was granted compassionate leave.

Huddersfield-born Stead is currently in his third spell with the club, having had two stints as a player between 2002 and 2004, and 2013 and 2015.

Reflecting on his spell as interim head coach, Stead said at a recent press conference: “Our remit, for me and Martin, was very clear when we came in – try and put a product on the pitch that can re-galvanise everybody, that can reconnect the supporters with the players and the club, and give us every opportunity to go and complete the objectives, in very, very difficult circumstances, when everything was probably against us.

“I’ve seen moments in this last four or five weeks where I can be extremely proud, we can be proud of, as a football club, and how we’ve come together and how we’ve had some magical moments out on the pitch, albeit you might be coming away from the game disappointed, but there’s been some real moments of excitement.

“I suppose if I don’t get another opportunity to say this, I feel so proud and honoured and privileged to walk out there, leading your football club, it is pretty special, and I’ve loved every second of it, and I’m just gutted that it didn’t end the way I really believed it would do, because I just fancied us (to make the play-offs), I really, really did, so did Martin.

“We’re hurting as much as everybody else, but the honour and pride you have is quite remarkable, so I do want to thank obviously the club and the fans. I just want to thank everybody, because it’s been remarkable.”

The Terriers took ten points from the final seven games under Stead and Drury, winning two, drawing four and losing once.

Town netted late goals to claim a draw and a victory over the Easter weekend against Reading and Leyton Orient, but conceded stoppage-time equalisers in their next three games against Wycombe Wanderers, Cardiff City and Bolton Wanderers, as their top-six hopes came to an end.

The Terriers produced contrasting displays in their final two games of the season, registering a convincing 4-1 home defeat to Mansfield Town before thumping AFC Wimbledon 4-0 away from home.

“The performances have been there, and it’s been fine margins that hasn’t given us I think the results that we deserved,” Stead added.

“I hate to say it, but it’s a linesman decision against Cardiff, which I’ve had an apology about, and we’ll all be happy to know that he’s going to get some help in focus and concentration, so that’s good to hear.

“Then there’s a late worldie at Bolton when I think out of all the games, that was probably the game where the players actually showed a bit of complacency, and that’s probably a strange thing to say after we’ve had a period before where we were trying to get them more confident and believe in themselves, so it’s gone kind of full circle in a couple of games where the performances were excellent, and then to Bolton where they kind of thought the job was done, and came off the gas a little bit.

“There’s a lot of different emotions and different things that they’re having to deal with in a very short period of time (the players), bearing in mind I can’t believe I think it’s only three months since I came back to the club again, so a lot has happened in that time, and they’ve had to deal with a lot. They’ve had it all season as well, the players have had a lot of change and a lot of different things happening throughout the season.”