Danny Cowley sacked by Huddersfield as owner Phil Hodgkinson wants total control over transfers
DANNY COWLEY was sacked just two days after he rescued Huddersfield from relegation after rows over recruitment.
SunSport understands owner Phil Hodgkinson wants total control over transfers — but his manager was not willing to work that way.
Cowley, and his brother and assistant Nicky, were fired after Terriers avoided the drop to League One by beating West Brom.
Hodgkinson is talking to Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson and Marcelo Bielsa’s assistant Carlos Corberan.
Insiders claim the Terriers’ owner decided he was going to dismiss the brothers during the coronavirus lockdown.
A club source said: “Danny and Nicky had an inkling and could have just walked out.
“But they wanted to see it through because so many jobs were at stake if they went down.”
The Cowleys took over from Jan Siewert in September after the club had one win in seven months.
Despite only having one point from the first nine games, they kept the club up.
No Championship team has ever survived from that position.
After Friday’s 2-1 win, Cowley said the club needed to sign working-class British players fans would identify with.
Sources say Cowley felt they should follow the model Sean Dyche has used at Burnley.
We have a different vision for how our ambitions can be achieved
Phil Hodgkinson
But Hodgkinson decided he wanted to bring in European players.
It is also understood the owner released several players this summer against Cowley’s wishes.
The brothers have enjoyed an incredible rise after starting in Essex Senior League football at Concord Rangers.
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They took Lincoln to League One and the FA Cup quarter-finals while still a non-league side before saving Huddersfield.
Hodgkinson released a statement saying: “I would like to place my thanks on record to Danny and Nicky for their hard work.
“We have a different vision for how our ambitions can be achieved.”