Sam Allardyce rules himself out of Huddersfield job after David Wagner’s exit
The Yorkshire side face an uphill task to avoid the dreaded drop with the Terriers rooted to the bottom of the Premier League
SAM ALLARDYCE has ruled himself out of the Huddersfield Town job following David Wagner's exit last night.
The club announced they had parted ways with the German after four years in charge with the rock-bottom Terriers eight points from safety.
Allardyce was among the names linked with the hot-seat at the John Smith's Stadium after steering Sunderland and Crystal Palace away from relegation in recent seasons.
But, the ex-England boss, who was installed at odds as short as 2/1 by some bookmakers, has distanced himself from the vacant post.
Allardyce told Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show: "As much as I like Huddersfield, it’s very difficult job indeed.
"For me, and I know the fans won’t want to hear this, it’s got to be about planning for relegation and then planning to get back into the Premier League."
Next Huddersfield Town Manager
1. Sam Allardyce - Sky Bet odds: 7/4
2. Mark Hudson - Sky Bet odds: 5/2
3. Slavisa Jokanovic - Sky Bet odds: 6/1
4. Carlos Carvalhal - Sky Bet odds: 8/1
5. David Moyes - Sky Bet odds: 9/1
6. Alan Pardew -Sky Bet odds: 11/1
Former Town centre-half Mark Hudson will take charge of affairs for the game against Manchester City this weekend with a new manager set to be confirmed after the match.
But confirming it won't be him, Allardyce added: "For me, at this stage of my life if they made an approach I would chat with them, but I think it’s very unlikely, Alan.
"They’ve only scored 12 goals in 22 matches, and while I’ve managed to pull teams out of the bottom end, at Sunderland I had Jermain Defoe and at Crystal Palace I had Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke.
"Huddersfield’s trouble is not their performances, it’s a lack of goals and we all know what it means when you have a goalscorer.
"It’s a very difficult task. Not this time.”
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FULL HUDDERSFIELD STATEMENT - DEAN HOYLE
“I’d like to begin by thanking David for all he has achieved at Huddersfield Town over the last three-and-a-half years.
"Under his stewardship, we’ve achieved things on the football pitch that surpass anything in modern memory, and that have gone well beyond my wildest expectations as chairman and as a fan.
“Under David’s management, we took this club to the highest position it has held in almost 50 years and created memories that will last forever.
“His achievements will rightly put him up there in Huddersfield Town history alongside great names like Herbert Chapman and Mick Buxton; legendary managers who changed the face of this club.
“As I had said previously, I had no intention of sacking David this season. Subsequently David – being the great man he is – came to us and made it clear that he needs a break from the rigours of football management.
“We discussed making that change immediately, but he also made it clear that he would give his all for the rest of this season before departing in the summer if we preferred.
"After a long discussion we all felt that David staying at the club until the end of the season was best, but we’ve kept discussions open and we all now feel that the time is right to part ways.
“I know the term ‘mutual consent’ is often a byword for the manager being sacked in professional football, but this is a truly joint decision.
"David has a real, genuine love for this club and, like me, his foremost concern in our talks has been to establish what is best for Huddersfield Town.
“I cannot thank David enough for what he has achieved. Along with his family, he will always be a friend to me and Huddersfield Town.
“It’s a very sad day, but now we have to look to the future; that’s what football and our immediate situation demands.
“I’ve asked Mark Hudson to take this weekend’s Premier League game against Manchester City.
"He knows how to play our game at its best and he knows the squad, so he’s perfectly placed to do so.
"Along with the technical staff, we’ll give him all the support we can ahead of the game.”
Huddersfield have just 11 points from their 22 games so far this season and no team with fewer than 13 at this stage has beaten the drop.
Wagner joined Huddersfield in November 2015 with the club struggling in the Championship and the 47-year-old led the Terriers to the Premier League for the first time in their history.