An open letter to Huddersfield Town supporters from Chairman Kevin Nagle
Supporters,
Without meaning to state the obvious, this season has been far from easy. There hasn’t been enough to enjoy, and we now must embrace the challenge that relegation has presented us.
As you will know, last season I committed to taking over the Club regardless of our divisional status, because what we envisioned for Huddersfield Town then was a multi-year, long-term project to overhaul everything we do both on and off the field to create a team and institution to all be proud of.
In no uncertain terms, relegation to Sky Bet League One this season does not change that goal and ambition.
Since long before taking official operational control, were more than aware that fortunes would not change overnight from where we inherited the Club, and this season has taught us the hard way of the true scope of change that is needed, and we are fully committed to making that happen.
I am not in the business of making excuses, and I take full responsibility for the difficult season that we have endured together, but having had many questions asked of me throughout the season - the majority of which I have encouraged and invited - I believe our supporters are entitled to a more complete view of the tasks that we have had to face since taking over.
As we know, prior to our involvement, we had a great many harsh financial realities to face that a great number of factors had contributed to. We realised extremely early in our discovery process before taking control that a number of key areas would require increased funding to flourish and reach its potential, with our First Team squad, Academy and Club infrastructure at both the training ground and John Smith’s Stadium all ripe for further investment. They are all projects we have already begun, and are ongoing.
Sadly, due to the formalities of the takeover taking longer than anticipated, we could not begin this work as early as we would have liked, and for a number of reasons, our preparation as a whole for the 2023/24 season fell well below expectations and the standards we aspire to both as a sporting enterprise and a business.
What also became quickly evident 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 field. This is something we have already begun to repair. Of course, attempts and investments were made in January to help at First Team level, but in a difficult market and notoriously uncertain transfer window, we ultimately couldn’t do enough to change our fate.
Having found ourselves at the tail end 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 that’s a cycle we need to stop. Just as you do, we only want individuals at our Club, on and off the pitch, who want to work and give their all for Huddersfield Town.
That feeling will underline our approach to our summer trading. Being a part of the Huddersfield Town family is a privilege, and that won’t be allowed to be forgotten.
Long standing plans already in place will give our First Team the best possible chance to succeed next season, putting together a pre-season itinerary that will incorporate top class training facilities in Austria and ambitious friendly fixtures that will give the side a platform from which to leap into the new campaign. With the proper preparation, the fitness, intent and togetherness of our team should no longer be areas in which we are questioned.
Work on our infrastructure has already begun, too. 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 was opened, and that has not changed. We are investing in our youth and our future, increasing the facilities at our training ground to give our Academy the platform from which it can flourish, and produce talent over time that is ready for our First Team.
We have also put in place a leadership group to oversee the day-to-day operations of the Club with the desire, ability and shared expertise to grow Huddersfield Town in areas that have previously been left unexplored, with further strategic appointments to be made and announced in the near future to further those ambitions.
Your frustration, anger, disbelief, antipathy and hurt is not only shared, but understood. While we cannot take back the season that is now behind us and undo overnight the problems of old that have been allowed to fester for too long, we can seek to learn from the past and do better going forward, and it is my feeling that we already are.
This can’t happen again, and we won’t allow it to - you have my word.
Tomorrow, we will launch our 2024/25 Season Cards and begin to look to the future. We hope to see you all there alongside us once again.
UTT.
Kevin Nagle
Owner and Chairman, Huddersfield Town
