Now it’s time to look at the third part for our Dean Hoyle series.

We’ll look at the ups and downs of Mark Robins rein in charge of the team. The appointment of Chris Powell why he was the only choice despite speculation. We’ll also see how the club has developed under Dean Hoyle’s chairmanship off the field too, and why he should stay for years to come at Huddersfield Town.

Part THREE - Huddersfield Town owner Dean Hoyle
Part THREE - Huddersfield Town owner Dean Hoyle

 

After the success of survival under Mark Robins things needed addressing. The squad needed more quality. So for the fifth year in a row Hoyle backed his manager with a good amount of funds.

2013/14 season

The summer of 2013/14 was one of interest as positions to strengthen were discussed, the defence being the main one. Also on the agenda was to try and sign James Vaughan up on a permanent deal, and so it was done “Vaughany” was signed from Norwich City for £600,000 a bargain for a striker of his quality. Martin Paterson arrived from Burnley and John Stead returned to the club after 10 years away. Nahki Wells joined from local rivals Bradford City in the January of 2014 for a club record fee £1.3 million.

After the summer was over and the real talk on the pitch started, the 2013/14 season got off to another good start. With some good results, however once again after Christmas came and past, the team faulted and tumbled towards the wrong end of the table. Unlike in previous seasons where Dean Hoyle had decided to take action he left Robins in charge to see whether he could sort out the mess. There was a distinct view from a minority of supporters that Robins wasn’t strong enough with the players, but did recognise he was quite able to place a team tactically.

The club finished 17th that season the best divisional finish in the football league for 14 years. Although they finished on lower points the league wasn’t as strong at the bottom as in the previous season so less points were required to stay up.

2014/15 season

Big changes happened in the summer of 2014, at the beginning of it one player did leave that would be a big loss to the club, the curtain came down on Peter Clarke’s Huddersfield Town career. “Captain Fantastic” the Town fans called him. Clarke had given everything he had to Town. A brilliant captain showing passion, loyalty, fight, energy and wisdom in what was becoming a youthful squad Clarke was Huddersfield Town and a true terrier. He’ll always be remembered for his clenched but proud stance on the famous Wembley walk and holding the league one playoff trophy aloft sending Town to the championship. All Town fans wished him well. However the club had to move on and so did Clarke. He now plays for Blackpool.

Going through the summer Town had to rebuild from yet again a disappointing end to the season. Even though Robins stayed his backroom staff was switched. Steve Thompson joined and Steve Eyre stepped up from the academy.

As for players the recruitment was less significant this time around as not as many players arrived as in previous years.

Connor Coady arrived from Liverpool for £275,000, Lee Peltier returned to the club and Mark Hudson was brought in from Cardiff City late into the transfer window.

Town fans were expectant at the first game of the season when the side versed a Bournemouth side expected to struggle. Town lost the game 4-0 in the worst opening day defeat in the clubs history. Carnage happened after the game where manager Mark Robins left the club by mutual consent. A surprising turn of events but with an angry reaction from the crowd, Robins thought he couldn’t carry on. With a whole summer pre-season wasted and Town now without a manager one day into the new season, it was already looking bad. Mark Lillis took control of the team and once again steadied the ship as he had done before when Clark and Grayson were sacked.

One transfer that still was rattling on at this moment was the Adam Clayton to Middlesbrough and Jacob Butterfield to Town deal. Due to Robins departure things looked bad. However the deal was done with Clayton sold to Boro for £1.3m and Butterfield came the other way for just £500,000. Oliver Norwood also left that summer and arrived at Reading for £750,000.

Dean Hoyle had now the decision to appoint a fourth manager in his rein. In the end there was only one choice. Early suggestions had Bolton manager Neil Lennon in the frame, however this was dismissed eventually. Chris Powell’s name was constantly mentioned and eventually he became Town manager. So far the team sit in 16th position and again are looking to progress. We’ll have to see where Powell takes the club in terms of transfers in the summer.

Off The Field

Dean Hoyle has transformed Huddersfield Town off the field two. With every department of the club in a better position now than when it was before he took full control.

Firstly the Club’s training facilities were originally based at Storthes hall in Huddersfield. However Dean Hoyle’s vision was set in motion straight away, he wanted a brand new complex for his beloved Town to train at. So a state of the art facility was created, from the best of 3G pitches to the best canteen, to a vamped up medical team and facility. Hospitality suits and all the rest. The complex overall cost Hoyle over £5m a sum the club will never pay back to him.

The club have a healthy relationship with the Yorkshire Air ambulance who Town have supported since Hoyle took control and this has grown over a number of years. This was put in to perspective when Tommy Smith Town’s RB had a terrible head injury and had to be airlifted to hospital. The club continue to support the air ambulance.

Town have supported several charities and are always looking to help out in the community more and more. Hoyle has significantly helped thousands of kid’s lives in the local community by using the club to provide Breakfast meals in schools and creating a real family club atmosphere. The club have won numerous awards both in and outside of football for their community work. The clubs supporters and Hoyle himself have ridden on bikes and walked the length and breadth of the country to raise money for the charities that the club supports, and for the football clubs ever progressing academy.

Huddersfield Town are in a positive and productive mind on and off the field. Since Hoyle took over at Town the club have improved every area of the clubs profile. Obviously one of the biggest aspects is on the field activities but it’s not just on the field that matters off the field matters too.

The modern football fan sometimes believes that the glamour and prestige of the Premier League is the only thing that matters, but it isn’t in my opinion.

Clubs spend millions each year on transfers and players, however its clubs like Huddersfield Town that get lost in the midst of an ever increasing billionaires playground. Since Dean Hoyle took over the club Town have progressed every year on the field and every year off it too. It may be slow progress but it is progress and that’s what matters.

The reason Dean Hoyle should continue his good work with Huddersfield Town, is because there aren’t many chairman out there that have gone from supporting his local side to owing it. If Town succeed and one day make it to the Premier League it should be under Hoyle and not under a chairman who has no affiliation with the club.

All the stats, figures and facts in this article were taken from Huddersfield Town’s official site.