Cowley sacked by Huddersfield as Barnsley get late hope of survival

Danny Cowley has been sacked as Huddersfield manager, despite he and his assistant, brother Nicky, helping the club all but secure their Championship survival.

The pair were dismissed two days after Huddersfield beat second-placed

to leave them three points clear of the bottom three with one game remaining. Although not mathematically safe, they have a far superior goal difference to Luton, in the final relegation place.

The duo took over from Jan Siewert in September but won just 13 of their 40 games. Huddersfield have said they are not seeking applications for the vacant position.

Chairman Phil Hodgkinson said: “I would like to place my thanks on record to Danny and Nicky for their hard work and dedication towards securing the club’s place in the Sky Bet Championship for next season.

“That was the clear priority when they were appointed in September and we are very grateful that has been achieved. However, we have made this decision in the belief that, in the long term, it is in the best interests of the club as we move forward. We have a different vision for the way we operate the club, and how our ambitions can be achieved.”

It promises to be a frantic final Championship day on Wednesday with no team yet relegated after

lived to fight another day following substitute Patrick Schmidt’s 93rd-minute winner against

The 1-0 victory meant they leapfrogged who are on the brink after Kazenga Lualua’s late winner for relegation rivals put them level on points with fourth-bottom following the latter’s draw with

Hull defender Ryan Tafazolli apologised to angry supporters. “We’re sorry, we really are,” he said. “There are people crying in the dressing room. No one went out there intending to lose. Honestly, we’re all hurting. It affects our families, it affects our livelihoods.”

and

19th and 20th, are not yet confirmed safe while 13th-placed Wigan, who have a 12-point deduction for entering administration looming, are only 10 points clear. Sheffield Wednesday, eight points clear, also have the threat of a points deduction regarding a long-standing English Football League misconduct charge.

At the top, fourth-placed have an outside chance of automatic promotion, requiring victory at Wigan, coupled with a defeat for West Bromwich Albion by Queens Park Rangers and anything less than a win for Brentford.

Meanwhile, Avon and Somerset Police have launched an investigation after Famara Diedhiou was racially abused online after missing a penalty in his side’s 1-0 loss at