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Huddersfield's difficult journey

How did a team which spent two seasons in the Premier League, from 2017 to 2019, find themselves in English football’s third tier after a miserable campaign that saw them finish second from bottom?

In July 2023, American businessman Kevin Nagle completed his takeover of Huddersfield, buying all of British retailer Dean Hoyle’s shares and ending the Card Factory tycoon’s 14-year spell as owner.

That period had seen the Yorkshire club go through plenty of change. The team had risen back into the top flight for the first time in 45 years and, in 2017-18, retained their status under David Wagner with notable wins against Manchester United, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace along the way. Life proved far harder the following year and they finished bottom to return from whence they had come.

On May 13, Michael Duff became Huddersfield’s sixth permanent manager since July 2022. The former Swansea City boss is charged with leading their journey back into the Championship.

It may not be easy. “It is going to be tough for them,” says the source close to the first-team setup. “When you’re in League One, it is tough to bring in the right players to get back into the Championship. They will find out who wants to stay; there are players looking to get out of there.”

The owner  plans to continue putting money into the club: swallowing the cost of not increasing the season ticket prices, signing new players, and making improvements to their 24,500-capacity stadium.  He is also hoping to become the ground’s outright owner — the club currently shares ownership with Huddersfield Giants Rugby League club and the local council — and is planning infrastructure improvements to both the ground and their training facility.

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