Andre Breitenreiter departs Huddersfield Town

The Terriers are looking for yet another gaffer after announcing the German has departed following relegation to League One

Huddersfield Town will be looking for their seventh permanent manager or head coach in just two years after it was announced that Andre Breitenreiter will leave the club following their relegation to League One.

The decision is described in the club’s statement as having been decided by mutual consent, with the process of finding a replacement sooner rather than later understood to be well under way already.

Chairman Kevin Nagle said: “I have enjoyed the opportunity to work with André over the past three months and he departs with our best wishes, while contingencies in place have seen our recruitment process for a new head coach advance.

“Supporters should rest assured that all decisions made are with the best intentions of our club in mind, and we look forward to moving on in a positive manner with a new head coach dedicated to our ideals and vision, with our plans for pre-season and ambitions for the year ahead unmoved.”

The head coach arrived as Darren Moore’s replacement in February but has been unable to steer the club away from relegation in his 13 games in charge, overseeing two wins, five draws and six defeats.

Over the past couple of weeks, Breitenreiter had declined to publicly discuss whether or not he would stay on at the club, simply saying that discussions would take place and that he needed time and information before he could make a final decision.

However, Breitenreiter did make clear his displeasure with certain unnamed members of his playing squad.

The head coach felt the nature of the goals they conceded against Swansea three games from the end of the season typified a lack of effort from certain parties that had been all too common throughout his time in charge.

After the Birmingham draw that effectively confirmed Town’s relegation, he told the written media: “You need more clean sheets and more goals to win games, but you deserve these things when you have a good team spirit, when you have one group and not many groups in the squad…it would be much easier, you’re right.

“In my opinion we had really honest players on the pitch [against Birmingham]. I cannot tell you about the problems but if I did you would understand what I mean: unacceptable things have happened here in the past two and a half months I haven’t experienced in 30 years in the business.

“After this season I can tell you maybe something more if it’s the right moment or if it’s necessary, but now we have to concentrate on the last game.”

Since Carlos Corberan’s resignation in July 2022, Town have seen Danny Schofield, Mark Fotheringham, Neil Warnock, Darren Moore and now Breitenreiter come and go, as well as having two caretaker spells under Narcis Pelach and one under Jon Worthington.

Steven Chicken reaction for We Are Terriers

Breitenreiter and the club appear to have acted in earnest to find a way they could proceed together, but that has clearly not been possible.

For me, Breitenreiter’s departure is disappointing but not surprising.

The head coach’s words and demeanour over the past few weeks have been that of a gaffer who clearly has plenty more to say but has chosen to hold his tongue beyond the comments he eventually made last week. The frustration had clearly been building for some time.