Bhoys role an honour for Duffer
DAMIEN DUFF says his move to Celtic is a ‘massive honour’.
The Republic of Ireland legend was yesterday officially appointed as reserve team coach at the Scottish champions.
He leaves Shamrock Rovers where he had been U15 boss and part of the first-team ticket before that since retiring as a player at the Tallaght club.
Duff said: “I’m absolutely delighted to join Celtic in this new role and be part of a club for which I have such huge respect.
“It’s a massive honour to be given this opportunity and I’m looking forward to playing my part in developing our young players of the future.
“I can’t wait get started and do all I can to make a positive difference to some exciting players we already have at the club.” DAVID WAGNER was ousted as Huddersfield boss after admitting he was burned out by the grind of losing games.
He told chairman Dean Hoyle – who said he would never sack him – that he wanted out at the end of this season, admitting being bottom of the Premier League was “anything but a joyride”.
But after detailed and emotional talks both men agreed to cut their losses and make a change.
Wagner, 47, is the first Premier League managerial casualty of the year, with the Terriers bottom after claiming just a point since December 1 – a run which included a nine-game losing streak.
Wagner departs with Hoyle saying he will forever be a Huddersfield great, up there with Herbert Chapman, having led the club to its highest position in 50 years. The German’s three-year, threemonth reign was founded on a “no-limits” philosophy.
Wagner galvanised players and a whole town with his charismatic, energetic passion.
But it was evident recently that the fizz of the upstart who led the Terriers to an unlikely promotion to the top flight through a Wembley play off (right), despite a negative goal difference, had gone flat.
Wagner took over when Huddersfield had the second lowest turnover in the Championship and left with them earning £120million a season in the top flight.
He worked another miracle last term, keeping Town out of the relegation zone, despite his side failing to score in an astonishing 21 games.
Tot up the stats of his 60 games as a Premier League boss and scoring goals was the problem. No goals in 31 of those games is the worst record in the league’s history.
Wagner said after Saturday’s goalless draw with Cardiff that if he was to leave the club it would be his decision, hinting an exit was on the agenda. He said: “I am under pressure. I am not just responsible for the time before the last six weeks. I am responsible for the last six weeks, when we haven’t won a football match or got a point.”
Hoyle is now searching for a new boss who will accept a seemingly impossible mission – make up an eight-point gap to safety with a squad who have scored three goals in their last eight games and face Manchester City next.
And Hoyle was warm in his tribute and said: “Under David’s stewardship, we’ve achieved things on the football pitch that surpass anything in modern memory, and that have gone well beyond my
PWDLFAwildest expectations chairman and as a fan.
“His achievements will rightly put him up there in Huddersfield history alongside great names like Herbert Chapman and Mick Buxton – legendary managers who changed the face of this club.
“As I had said previously, I had no intention of sacking David this season.
“Subsequently, David – being the great man he is – came to us and made it clear that he needs a break from the rigours of football management.
“We discussed making that change immediately, but he also made it clear he would give his all for the rest of this season before departing in the summer if we preferred. But we’ve kept discussions open and we all now feel that the time is right to part ways.”
Coach Mark Hudson has been put in temporary charge.
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