Contenders to become next Huddersfield Town manager

Despite the promise of an instant Championship return, Huddersfield Town's season petered out in excruciating fashion as they slipped from automatic promotion contention to outside the play-offs.

The club's deterioration in form ultimately cost Michael Duff his job and interim head coach Jon Worthington was unable to steer the Terriers back on course as the team slumped to 10th.

Huddersfield's next appointment is a critical one as they attempt to end years of turmoil and we've looked at the managerial candidates in the frame to take over at the John Smith's Stadium.

David Wagner

A report from talkSPORT linked David Wagner with a fairytale return to the Pennines and if most Huddersfield supporters could identify their dream appointment, then the German would most likely top the bill.

Wagner guided the Terriers to the Premier League in 2017 and preserved their top-flight status in the subsequent season, etching his name into Huddersfield folklore.

Acquiring a manager of Wagner's popularity would certainly appease a fractured relationship between the board and increasingly despondent fans, while the 53-year-old is certainly of a calibre too good to be managing in League One.

That's where the problem lies.

Wagner will most likely require considerable persuasion to even consider going back to the John Smith's Stadium, but if the club can convince the former Norwich City manager of their long-term ambitions, a reunion is not out of the question.

Stephen Robinson

St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson is a man in demand following an impressive three-year spell in charge of the Buddies.

Since taking over in 2022, Robinson has steered the Paisley club to three consecutive top-six finishes - including the club's highest league finish in almost 40 years - and brought European football to St Mirren Park for the first time since 1987.

Inevitably such commendable work attracts attention and Robinson has been linked with a variety of roles across the Football League, including Cardiff City and QPR.

It will likely require significant compensation to prise Robinson away from the Scottish Premiership after the Northern Irishman recently agreed a long-term contract extension to tie him down until 2027.

Des Buckingham

Des Buckingham was ultimately the victim of his own success after guiding Oxford United into the Championship, only to be sacked in December following a poor sequence of results which saw the U's slip to within a point of the drop zone.

Buckingham embarked on a unique path to football management in England after a nomadic coaching career which saw him represent Wellington Phoenix, Melbourne City and Mumbai City

The 40-year-old has been out of work since his Oxford dismissal but has been linked to a number of vacancies and a club of Huddersfield's stature would certainly pique the interest of Buckingham.

Luke Williams

With his stock soaring after guiding Notts County to promotion from the National League and putting the Meadow Lane club in contention for a possible leap into League One, Luke Williams' stint at Swansea City didn't pan out as hoped.

Williams steered the Swans clear of relegation trouble upon his appointment in January 2023 and appeared on course to build on their 14th-place finish, until a disastrous sequence of results at the start of 2025 cost the 44-year-old his job.

If Huddersfield are keen to establish an identity, Williams' experience at coaching possession-based sides makes him an appealing candidate, while Williams may see the Terriers as a perfect opportunity for him to reaffirm his managerial credentials and progress up the ladder.

Brian Barry-Murphy

Some may glance at Brian Barry-Murphy's only managerial stint with Rochdale and hold reservations, but the current Leicester City first team coach has enhanced his coaching repertoire after a three-year spell as manager of Manchester City's Elite Development Squad.

During his stint at Spotland, Barry-Murphy did retain Rochdale's Football League status during an interim spell and upon being named permanent manager, kept the Dale comfortably clear of trouble in the subsequent campaign before relegation finally snatched them in 2021.

At Man City, he was involved in the progression of several prodigious individuals including Cole Palmer, Rico Lewis and Oscar Bobb, showcasing his aptitude at developing players.

Appointing Barry-Murphy would be a gamble, but so was Birmingham City's decision to give Chris Davies his first managerial gig.