COWLEY’S CHALLENGE
DANNY COWLEY wants to complete a unique set of achievements and manage in his ninth division of English football.
The former Lincoln idol moved to Huddersfield Town yesterday, with brother Nicky as assistant manager, after winning a power battle over his job title with his new employers.
After starting his career in the lower levels of non-League with Concord Rangers and Braintree Town, the 40-year-old is aiming for the only division in which he is yet to manage – the Premier League.
He said: “Nicky and I started in the Essex Senior League, step five of non-League football, so you have to dream big.You have to believe in football miracles, it happened here before recently so why not again?
“Leaving Lincoln has been the most difficult decision of our lives, it has been a fairy tale, but I want to live my life with no regrets.
“This will be the eighth division of the top nine in English football that Nicky and I have managed in and we feel this is the next step to get to the ninth division.”
That aim looks a tall order with Huddersfield having won only once since November 25 and with just three points from their past available 48 – a run that saw them exit the top flight in miserable fashion last term.
But the Cowleys believe their unorthodox background in teaching can serve them well, even with failing former Premier League players.
Cowley added: “We’ll be forever grateful for our pathway and the chance teaching gave us to build our skillset. A dressing room is just your naughtiest classroom, it’s your Friday period five, Year Nine group! People are people, footballers want to be successful, they want to win. All you’ve got to do is remind them how.”
The brothers were the Terriers’ first choice to replace Jan Siewert after he was axed last month.
But talks stalled over whether the duo would be named manager and assistant manager or “coaches” in the Terriers’ new structure. They finally signed up after Huddersfield paid Lincoln £1million in compensation and agreed to give the Cowleys final say on staff and player appointments. Cowley said: “The opportunity to be managers, as opposed to head coach, is very important to us. That’s how we’ve always worked, it’s about building.
“This is our 13th season as managers and we’ve had some good successes. We’ve always been able to do it the way we saw fit. It’s about building a club and having the opportunity to affect the whole of it, not just the players on the pitch.”
The Cowleys will take charge for the first time in Sunday’s Yorkshire derby with Sheffield Wednesday, and their own new boss Garry Monk.
I want to live with no regrets