Kevin Nagle predicts big Huddersfield Town change in the next “5-10 years” | OneFootball

The Accu Stadium could be massively upgraded within the next decade

Huddersfield Town owner Kevin Nagle has issued an exciting prediction that could see the Accu Stadium transformed within the next decade.

The Terriers have recently become owners of the West Yorkshire ground that had previously been under three-way control between themselves, the local authority of Kirklees Council and Huddersfield Giants of Rugby League's top division, the Betfred Super League, ever since the stadium was opened back in the summer of 1994.

Town currently find themselves in the midst of a second successive season in League One after being relegated from the Championship two seasons ago, with Nagle constantly revealing his ambitions of returning the club to its previous position as an upwardly mobile one, having been a Premier League side as recently as the 2018/19 campaign.

In truth, last season ended in disaster for those in this part of West Yorkshire, with Huddersfield winning just two of their final 15 league matches of the campaign under both Michael Duff - who was relieved of his duties in March - and interim boss Jon Worthington, as they finished the campaign in 10th place, some 14 points behind eventual play-off finalists Leyton Orient.

Lee Grant has since taken up his first full-time managerial role, having previously been assistant to Kieran McKenna at Ipswich Town during a largely successful period at Portman Road that included back-to-back promotions from the third tier to the Premier League between 2022 and 2024.

It has been a mixed start to life as the 'number one' in the hotseat for the 42-year-old, who has, somewhat bizarrely, already been the subject of sack calls despite sitting in seventh place in a congested table thus far, with Nagle also reiterating his full backing of the newly-appointed manager.

However, the American also has plenty of off-pitch matters to focus on, and his latest prediction is certainly one which will excite the locals.

As previously mentioned, the now-named Accu Stadium has been Town's home for the past 31 years, witnessing its fair share of great highs and bad lows in recent history.

It is unknown what specific fee was parted with, but last month, it was confirmed that the football club had taken sole control of the ground and its surrounding 53 acres, securing a 300-year lease on the land within the process.

Their current groundsharers are expected to move in the near future and build a more appropriate 8,000-stadium in comparison to the Accu's capacity of exactly 24,500.

Whilst there have been several instances in the past of clubs selling their stadiums to parent companies overseen by their respective custodians, Nagle believes that owning the Accu Stadium and the nearby land will only allow the club to grow its revenue streams and, subsequently, be able to attract high-quality players on higher wage packets and progress up the pyramid.

“We’re an entertainment venue whose flagship is Huddersfield Town,” Nagle told the Athletic.

“The financial rules mean we have to drive revenues, as that constitutes what kind of players you can get. You cannot endlessly write cheques to purchase players. That’s unhealthy for the club. Having other events gives you credit to continue and operate in a healthier environment for the betterment of the team.”

“You look around all of England, we have a top stadium. Is it the largest? No. But the way it’s designed is beautiful. It’s so well constructed and I knew straight away we could build off that," he added.

“Not only did I see us putting a hotel there, but the 53 acres surrounding it meant the stadium could be an economic centre that currently is not there. Huddersfield really needs that.

“We will try to make it a place where people can live, work and play. Not all of it (the land) is usable, but that’s great, as you need some green to blend in with the urbanisation.

“The last decade of my working career, this (real estate) is an area I’ve come to know. Where I am right now (the United States), we have something very similar where we built all sorts of mixed-use hotels and restaurants.

“There’s a lot of activity going on and it’s a location where people can feel safe. I see that opportunity in Huddersfield," he explained.

“Will it happen overnight? No,” Nagle said. “But I do see us relatively quickly working out what our options are on the hotel site. We are drawing some things up right now. Whether it’s a standalone or plugged right into the stadium itself.

“A slow build is what I see. But, in five to 10 years, it might not be as recognisable to anyone who left in 2025 and has not been back.”

Kevin Nagle's plans could elevate Huddersfield Town to the next level

Due to the current footballing landscape, clubs and their owner(s) have to be extremely innovative when it comes to the ways in which they are able to grow, particularly from a financial standpoint.

Nagle has ploughed plenty of investment into Town's playing squad in the past year or so, but is yet to see those funds showcased into a successful on-pitch product yet.

However, it is clear that the acquisition of the stadium and its nearby land will put more of a focus on the Town, particularly due to Nagle's trans-Atlantic connections, and these are also feats that have been achieved by Birmingham City and Wrexham.

The aforementioned clubs have continuously made it their aim to swiftly move up the pyramid, which, in turn, could have a negative effect on expectation levels in the present.

Therefore, Huddersfield supporters will be reassured that whilst Nagle is thinking about the long-term, such plans may not prove distractive when analysing the club's current predicament.