NEIL WARNOCK will step down as Huddersfield Town manager after the Championship game against Stoke City.
The boss’ final game will come at the John Smith’s Stadium against the Potters with assistant Ronnie Jepson following.
Warnock’s departure was announced by club chief Jake Edwards at a press conference.
Edwards said: “I must start this statement by, on behalf of everyone at the football club, expressing my huge gratitude to Neil and his assistant, Ronnie Jepson, for the incredible job they have done at the club over the last six months.
“Keeping this club in the Sky Bet Championship, given the position the team was in when they arrived in February, was nothing short of amazing, and built upon their already lasting legacies at this club as a management team and, in Ronnie’s case, as a player too.
“They are both, undeniably, Huddersfield Town legends, and have cemented their positions in this club’s history.
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“Our owner, Kevin Nagle, and I were so grateful when Neil and Ronnie agreed to stay at the club for the new season.
“All parties were clear that this was not a long-term appointment, but that it gave us important stability on the football side whilst the change of ownership was completed, and the new regime established itself at the club.
“At this point, we now feel we are ready to make a longer-term managerial appointment. I’ve had detailed discussions with Neil and, alongside Ronnie, Carl Serrant and Ian Bennett, he’s agreed to step aside to allow us to do this.
“Again, I cannot thank Neil and Ronnie enough for everything they have done for this club.
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“I know they want to leave on a high with a result against Stoke City in midweek, and I’m sure they will get the send-off they deserve from the players and supporters.”
When Warnock, 74, was asked about leaving the club he insisted that he would not be retiring from football.
During his most recent stint at the Terriers, Warnock managed to drag the club to Championship safety and has won nine of 23 matches.
Warnock has enjoyed a respected career in English football having won promotions to the Premier League with the likes of Sheffield United, QPR and Cardiff City.
He has insisted that there is no “fall out” with the club despite it being its decision.
Warnock said: “It’s the club’s, that’s correct.
“But I always told him I’d do it until they were ready and then if they let me know I’d go, and they have let me know so you can’t say fairer than that.
“I’ve not fallen out with anybody. Jake’s come to me and said they want to move on and management’s the next step.
“I think management is the biggest decision they’ll have to make really.”
It was reported on the weekend that Huddersfield were closing in on a “mystery foreign boss” to replace Warnock.
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Warnock came out of retirement in February to keep relegation-threatened Town in the Championship against all odds.
He then signed a new one-year contract after the takeover by American Kevin Nagle.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
