Martin Drury and Jon Stead’s first words after taking over at Huddersfield Town

The pair will lead the Terriers after head coach Liam Manning stepped away temporarily on compassionate leave

Huddersfield Town’s interim management duo, Martin Drury and Jon Stead, spoke for the first time since taking over ahead of their first game in charge on Good Friday.

The pair will lead the Terriers for the rest of this campaign after head coach Liam Manning stepped away temporarily on compassionate leave.

First up for the caretakers is a big one against Reading at home, with the visitors currently holding the last play-off spot in League One, with Town just four points further back.

Speaking on the club’s YouTube channel ahead of the game, Drury first commended Manning for his decision to step away at this time, knowing that it would not have been an easy one to make.

“Naturally, it has been a slightly challenging situation,” said Drury. “But the main priority for us is Liam and making sure he’s okay.

“I think what he’s done is incredibly courageous in stepping away to make sure everything is sorted, and having worked with him, I know how much he’s been fighting and pushing.

“I feel a sense of relief and compassion towards him that he can have this time of respite, which will see him come back even hungrier and stronger than he was before.”

Huddersfield-born Drury and former Terriers player Stead had both joined the coaching staff in late January to form part of Manning’s backroom team, but they have now quickly stepped up into a role of greater responsibility with the club still having something to play for.

Drury explained: “For us, we are here to hold the fort for him, but we’ve still got a team of players here to work with, and the last seven or eight days have been a challenge for everyone because some of them have naturally got very good relationships with Liam.

“Once they got over the initial emotions of the situation while still thinking of him, they knew they still needed to come in and work and push each other.

“I think with what we’ve seen over the last three or four days, in particular, after the initial shock, the attitude of the players has been first-class.

“The levels have been really good in training, and I think that shows the respect they have for Liam that everyone is pushing so that he can be pleased with what’s going on, looking from afar.

“We’ll keep pushing with the players and keep working, so hopefully it all translates onto the pitch on Friday with what looks like a really great game for us to get into.”

Also born and raised in the area, Stead had two memorable stints at Town as a player, making over 100 senior appearances, so he understands the club and what it will take to get a positive response from the supporters early doors as they prepare for a big game.

“It’s been a collective effort,” he added. “That’s how it has always been at this club ever since I came through as a player, and watching from afar, it’s a club that rallies around when times get tough.

“We’ve certainly seen that from the players, the rest of the staff, and I think the fans will recognise that as well, because we’ve still got an unbelievable opportunity this season to kick on.

“It’s an all-in mentality that we’re trying to provide for the group, and we’ve been driving the standards because we need that buy-in.”