Claim made on Huddersfield Town owner Kevin Nagle's situation - 'blame travels upwards' | OneFootball

Praise has been given to Kevin Nagle after a very difficult time of it in charge of Huddersfield Town thus far.

Huddersfield Town head into the final few weeks of the League One campaign in a tricky spot as they sit tucked inside the top-half of the table and in the hunt for a play-off berth.

The Terriers earned themselves a much-needed defeat of Leyton Orient on Easter Monday to ensure they sit just three points behind sixth place Stevenage with five matches to go.

Huddersfield are currently under the management of Martin Drury and Jon Stead after Liam Manning was granted compassionate leave, with Town seeking to return to the Championship.

It has been a generally frustrating campaign once again for the Yorkshire-based outfit with fingers of blame pointed anywhere and everywhere around the club.

The current owner and chairman, Kevin Nagle, is one of those that many supporters have begun to turn on, albeit he still does have a lot of backing, too.

Kevin Nagle backed to succeed at Huddersfield

Chairman and CEO of the Sacramento Republic, as well as an investor in the Sacramento Kings, Minnesota-born Kevin Nagle took charge at Huddersfield in 2023.

He completed his takeover of the club in March 2023 with the club being steered to safety under Neil Warnock, a season after they had been play-off finalists in the Championship.

Despite the decline under the ownership of Nagle, FLW’s Huddersfield Fan Pundit Graeme Rayner does believe that Nagle is the right man for Town:

Graeme says: “Kevin Nagle has had quite a difficult time on the pitch in terms of on the pitch results.

“Obviously, we suffered a relegation and then last season we didn’t progress to get promotion or really even end up challenging for promotion.

“This season, we haven’t realistically challenged in the way we should. We have been in and around the play-offs but we have shot ourselves in the foot several times and when we look back at some of the dropped points against opposition we should be expecting to more positive results against; we’ve been our own worst enemy in terms of securing a play-off or even an automatic promotion spot.

“Ultimately, that can’t all lie at his door. The players have to take responsibility and the coaches have to take responsibility, but, at the head of organisation, blame travels upwards, as does praise.

“I think he’s done brilliant work off the pitch. I think he’s done the right thing in terms of backing his Director of Football and recruitment staff in transfer windows – and that just hasn’t paid off in the way in which he deserves it to and we want it to.

“I think that there are signs that, going forward, things might improve. Chris Markham, as Director of Football, is much more of a good fit than Mark Cartwright was.

“There is still a lot going on at the club that points to upheaval. We’ve got the issue with Liam Manning now, on a leave of absence.

“It is really difficult but I don’t mind him and I think he’s got our best interests at heart – which is all you can really ask for in an owner.”

Huddersfield have declined under Kevin Nagle

His first full season in charge of the club, the 2023/24 campaign, began with Warnock still at the helm at the John Smith’s Stadium, albeit he departed in mid-September to be replaced by Darren Moore.

Moore lasted until the end of January and the surprise appointment of Andre Breitenreiter didn’t improve things as Nagle’s first season ended in relegation.

Michael Duff was given the keys, and some hefty backing, but Town, despite being in title contention in January, collapsed with Jon Worthington overseeing the final month and a half of the season, despite the Town remaining in a good spot for a top six finish.

Lee Grant, another punt, was given hefty backing last summer but frustrating inconsistency undermined his tenure before the arrival of the now on-leave Manning.