Old pal helps King make up mind to join Terriers
NEW Town arrival Andy King has revealed some key words from an old mate helped him make the move from Leicester City.
The 31-year-old has joined the John Smith’s Stadium club until the end of the season, with the aim to help Town stay in the Championship at the same time as proving he should be in the Wales squad for the European Championships.
Danny Cowley was obviously a big influence on one-club man King in persuading him it was the right move at the right time, but another character cemented that belief for the experienced midfielder.
“Danny Simpson is really enjoying his time here, he’s enjoying playing again,” explained King, who could well make a Town debut and his 400th senior domestic appearance against Brentford at the John Smith’s Stadium.
“Me and him were in a similar situation last year where we didn’t play as much as we wanted, just cup games and when someone was injured.
“He only had good things to say about the lads and the club, so that’s why I’m really happy to be here.
“He will help me [to settle in]. I’ve only moved once or twice before so it’s a new experience for me as well, even at my age.
“Simmo has said the lads are brilliant, so I’m sure they will make us feel welcome.
“Stears (former Leicester defender Richard Stearman) is new as well so we’ll be finding out together.”
TOWN manager Danny Cowley admits he is ‘hurt’ by fans’ frustrations towards the team – but accepts that if he were in their place he would feel exactly the same.
The Terriers were booed off by the away end at half-time during the 2-1 defeat to Barnsley last weekend after an abject first-half display, with a more mixed response on the final whistle still seeing a number of fans directing invective towards the players and staff heading past them
TOWN’S record signing Terence Kongolo has joined Fulham on loan until the end of the season.
The 25-year-old Dutch international is contracted to Town until 2022 but has not been available to play for manager Danny Cowley since the end of November.
That was after a disastrous towards the tunnel at Oakwell.
Speaking at his press conference ahead of this afternoon’s visit of in-form Brentford to the John Smith’s Stadium, Cowley said: “We’re very much a work in progress at every level and that is the truth.
“Obviously, we’ve come in mid-season, the playing squad is evolving and we’re in that process.
“Behind the scenes there’s a new chief executive who started on Monday, Phil [Hodgkinson] obviously is a new chairman.
“So it’s definitely a work in progress and we’re all working really performance against Bristol City and Kongolo – who cost them £17.5m from Monaco after an initial loan – hasn’t played since in readiness for a January transfer window move.
Fulham have been showing interest since last week and talks have now reached a conclusion with a loan until the end of the season.
It is understood the loan could be with a view to a permanent transfer, hard to put the right processes so that we can move the club forward not only operationally on a day-today basis, but strategically on a long-term basis, and that’s what we’re working really hard to get to.
“What I can say is that everyone has the right intentions at this football club.
“We all want the very, very best for Huddersfield Town and we’re all working relentlessly hard to get this wonderful football club back to where it should be and back to where the supporters deserve it to be.
“They’ve got every right to be frustrated at the moment.
“If I was a Huddersfield Town supporter I’d be frustrated, and that upsets me because I have to say in 14 years as a football manager I’ve never had the supporters be in that place and be frustrated and disappointed with my team.
“I get it and I understand it and we’re working really, really hard.
“I’ve been at the club long enough now to work out what they want and
I just think it’s our job to make sure we get the team and the club in the place that they want it to be because ultimately it is their club.
“It’s been a tough period in the days I’ve been here but well before that as well, and it’s not going to be easy, this next period, not easy at all.
“But I know that if we stick together – and that’s easier for me to say and harder for the supporters to live by, but if they can stick with us, particularly when things are not easy – then it will help the team, it will help the players, and it will allow us to get to where we want to go.
“We’re really focused and really determined on getting to these 50 points.
“When I wake up it’s always every morning the first thing I think about and when I put my head on the pillow the last thing I think about before I go to sleep and it will be until we get to where we want to go.
“For us as employees of this football club all of our lives are on hold until we get to that 50 points.”
If I was a Huddersfield Town supporter I’d be frustrated, and
that upsets me
Middlesbrough on Friday night. During his time with the Terriers, the defender made 56 appearances, scoring one goal.
The Fulham switch could be a chance for Kongolo to return to the Premier League, where he played under both David Wagner and Jan Siewert in blue and white stripes. Fulham are fourth in the Championship table with 45
points from 27 games.