The Football League Paper

WAGNER COOL AS HIS ALLY WAITS TO LEAVE

- By Ben Baker

MANAGER David Wagner insists nothing will derail Huddersfie­ld’s push for promotion following the news that head of football operations Stuart Webber has been placed on gardening leave.

Following speculatio­n linking him with a move to Norwich City, a statement on Thursday from Huddersfie­ld announced that Webber was on leave until the matter was resolved.

The news could have come as a blow to Wagner, with Webber playing a big part in brining the German to the club in 2015.

The duo also worked together in the summer overhaul of the playing staff, which led to a total of 13 new recruits joining the club.

But Wagner is only focusing on one thing – leading the Terriers to the Premier League, with the club heading into this weekend sat third in the Championsh­ip.

“I am not disappoint­ed about this – this is football business. He has made his decision,” Wagner said.

“It is merely another opportunit­y to demonstrat­e the team are independen­t from everything around them.

“Our focus is on something much more important than Stuart Webber. Everyone knows how important he was in bringing me to the club, but it was the chairman (Dean Hoyle) who made the decision to appoint me.

“Stuart did a lot in this job but, like everyone, it would have been nice to leave via the front door.

“Obviously he has decided to use another door but that is his decision.

“We always plan and recruit together. Often, I would give him advice and he would try to make it happen. Sometimes, he gave me some names to follow.

“The problem is not who the sporting director is, but the fact we don’t know what division we will be playing in next year.

“It’s a good problem which we will solve.”

 ??  ?? IN LIMBO: Stuart Webber
IN LIMBO: Stuart Webber

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