Tough baptism for boss Danny
BIG CHALLENGE AHEAD
Hreporting
UDDERSFIELD were on the cusp of glory last season, just 90 minutes away from a return to the Premier League. But an agonising 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in the Championship Play-off final saw their promotion dreams shattered.
Less than two months later – and just before they start the new season against
Burnley on Friday – the club find themselves with problems to fix.
They have lost out on a reported £150million for not winning promotion but, whatever the financial downside, it’s on the pitch where they’ve really felt it.
Spanish boss Carlos Corberan (above) quit earlier this month despite his heroics in nearly guiding the club to the promised land last term.
Danny Schofield (right), who played for the club for over a decade and was more recently the Terriers’ academy coach, beat a string of big names to
land the top job. But to
make the challenge greater, Lewis O’brien and Harry Toffolo, two of the team’s star players, have left the club to – ironically – play for Forest in the top flight.
“The successes we had last season, and then for Carlos to resign, it’s been a massive shock,” said Schofield.
“But this club gave me an opportunity to be a professional footballer and now to be the head coach. It’s a massive honour and one I’m going to work very hard at to make it a success.”
On the upside, the
Terriers have signed Japan international defender Yuta Nakayama and attacking midfielder Jack Rudoni to strengthen their ranks.
Nakayama, 25, has been capped 16 times by his country and Schofield said: “Yuta has very good game understanding. He’s a high-quality player who we really like.”
Meanwhile, Rudoni, 21, signed fromwimbledon on a four-year deal. He bagged 12 goals for the Dons last season in League One.
It will be interesting to see if the Yorkshire club can stage a serious title challenge this term to get
back to the top tier.