Huddersfield boss Breitenreiter leaves after relegation

Huddersfield Town boss Andre Breitenreiter has left by mutual consent following the club's relegation from the Championship.

The German took over in February after Darren Moore was sacked but won just two of his 13 games as the Terriers were relegated to League One on the final day of the regular season last Saturday.

Before their relegation was confirmed, Breitenreiter criticised the pre-season that veteran boss Neil Warnock had presided over last summer and said the team lacked unity.

His exit means Huddersfield are now looking for a sixth permanent manager since Carlos Corberan left in July 2022.

The club said in a statement:, external "Positive discussions were held between the club and Andre regarding the future. However, with time it became evident that it was in the best interest of both parties to amicably part ways."

Owner Kevin Nagle added: “I have enjoyed the opportunity to work with Andre over the past three months and he departs with our best wishes, while contingencies in place have seen our recruitment process for a new head coach advance.

“Supporters should rest assured that all decisions made are with the best intentions of our club in mind, and we look forward to moving on in a positive manner with a new head coach."

Breitenreiter led both Paderborn and Hannover to promotion to the Bundesliga and managed Schalke and Hoffenheim in the German top flight.

He also won the Swiss league title during a spell in charge of FC Zurich in 2021-22.

However, despite winning his first game in charge of Town away at Watford, he was unable to turn their fortunes around.

A 1-1 draw with fellow strugglers Birmingham in the penultimate game of the season meant they were all-but relegated prior to losing at promoted Ipswich on Saturday.

Before the game at Portman Road, Breitenreiter said he would maybe not have taken over at the club had he "known about all the things and problems in the team".

He also suggested the players lacked the fitness required because of a lacklustre pre-season.

"I heard about the really poor pre-season where players trained once a day and the focus was on playing golf and maybe staying in the pub," he told BBC Radio Leeds.

"This never leads to success.

"They did not train enough to be able to play over 90 minutes - this is what I heard from many, many people around the club."

Matt Glennon former Huddersfield goalkeeper and Town summariser on BBC Radio Leeds

I was hoping he'd go. I don't think he was the man to take the club forward in League One.

I knew it was coming from his body language and what he was saying. It's not a massive surprise, it's just taken longer than I had expected.

The problem is they bring in such different coaches and managers. They need consistency in who they bring in.

They've got to bring the right person in and if they could get someone like Liam Rosenior that would be unbelievable. He's a character who could have a connection with the fans and players and have a clear plan of what he wants to do.