Kevin Nagle accepts “full responsibility” for Huddersfield Town’s relegation in open letter

Huddersfield Town owner Kevin Nagle has written an open letter to supporters following the club’s relegation to League One. The American has taken “full responsibility” for one of the toughest years at the John Smith’s Stadium in recent times.

The Terriers finished second from bottom in the Championship, winning nine times in their 46 games under Neil Warnock, Darren Moore, Jon Worthington and Andre Breitenreiter. Nagle, who completed his purchase of the club following last year’s great escape, insists he remains committed to the “multi-year, long-term project to overhaul everything” at the club.

Whether Breitenreiter will lead the Terriers into contention next season remains to be seen. No mention has yet been made of the German’s position. Breitenreiter joined the club in mid-February on a two-and-a-half-year deal, but was unable to prevent them slipping into the third tier of English football for the first time since 2012.

Read more: ‘Shunned’ Huddersfield Town defender talks summer rebuild as Terriers prepare for League One

Nagle’s open letter read: “Without glossing over the obvious, this season has been far from easy. It wasn’t enough to rejoice and now we have to accept the challenge that the relegation presented us.

“As you know, last season I committed to taking over the club regardless of our divisional status, because what we envisioned for Huddersfield Town at the time was a multi-year, long-term project to review everything what we do both on and off the field. to create a team and an institution that everyone can be proud of.

“To be sure, relegation to Sky Bet League One this season does not change that aim and ambition.

“Long before we took formal operational control we were more than aware that fortunes would not change overnight where we inherited the club and this season has taught us the hard way the true scale of change that is required and we are fully engaged. to make this happen.

“I’m not in the business of making excuses and I take full responsibility for the difficult season we’ve endured together, but after being asked many questions throughout the season – most of which I encouraged and invited – I think our supporters have the right to a more complete view of the tasks we have had to face since the takeover.

“As we know, prior to our involvement, we faced a lot of harsh financial realities that were contributed to by a large number of factors. We realized extremely early in our discovery process, before we took over, that a number of key areas would require increased funding to flourish and reach their potential, with our first team, Academy infrastructure and the club’s facilities, both at the training ground and at the John Smith’s Stadium, are all set for further investment. They are all projects that we have already started and are ongoing.

“Unfortunately, due to takeover formalities taking longer than anticipated, we were unable to start this work as early as we would have liked and, for a number of reasons, our overall preparation for the 2023/24 season has fallen by far below. the expectations and standards to which we aspire both as a sporting enterprise and as a business.

“What quickly became apparent was that, as a result of that past malaise, the culture of the Club was not conducive to a winning environment, both on and off the pitch. It’s something we’ve already started Of course, attempts and investments were made in January to help at first-team level, but in a difficult market and a notoriously uncertain transfer window, we ultimately couldn’t do enough to turn our fortunes around. .

“Having found ourselves bottom of the league for two consecutive seasons, it is more than clear that change is needed. For you supporters, 10 of the last 12 seasons have been spent fighting relegation and this is a cycle that we need to stop him. Like you, we only want people at our club, on and off the pitch, who want to work and give their all for Huddersfield Town.

“This sentiment will underline our approach to our summer deals. Being part of the Huddersfield Town family is a privilege and one that will not be forgotten.

“The long-term plans already in place will give the First Team the best possible chance of success next season by putting together a pre-season itinerary that will include first-class training facilities in Austria and ambitious friendlies that will give the team a platform from which to jump into the new campaign With proper preparation, our team’s fitness, intent and unity should no longer be areas where we are in doubt.

“Work on our infrastructure has already started. You are aware of our ambition to take full control of our home at the John Smith’s Stadium for the first time since it opened and that has not changed. We invest in our youth. and our future, enhancing the facilities at our training ground to give our Academy the platform from which to flourish and produce talent in time that is ready for our First Team.

“We have also established a leadership group to oversee the day-to-day operations of the club with the shared desire, ability and expertise to grow Huddersfield Town in areas previously left unexplored, with further strategic appointments to be made. and announced in the near future to promote these ambitions.

“Your frustration, anger, mistrust, dislike and hurt are not only shared, but understood. While we can’t take back the season that is now behind us and undo overnight the problems of yesteryear that have been allowed to fester for too long, we can look to learn from the past and do better going forward, and I feel like we are already .

“This cannot happen again and we will not allow it – you have my word. UTT.”