Huddersfield beat Walsall and themselves

Huddersfield Town beat Walsall by two goals to nil this afternoon, with goals by a departing Danny Schofield in what must have been a very satisfying exit for both player and fans, and one from the newly re-signed for one year, the veteran Mr Terrier himself Andy Booth.

Further credit to Gerry Murphy for the splendid job he has done once again, for the club in difficult circumstances.

Unfortunately for Vital Huddersfield we did not have a representative at the game, which is a slight problem for a news/fans site like ourselves.

This brought on by a combination of the unavailability of some and the disinclination of others to embrace the new Ternent/Hoyle era.

Vital Huddersfield will continue to voice its opinions and those of its contributors to the site, but this would seem a fitting time given this development to explore some of the reasons this writer feels that the appointment of Stan Ternent and Ronnie Jepson as new manager and assistant has been so unwelcomed initially by the faithful.

It is probably in part a reaction to the joy felt at the removal of the hopeless Andy Ritchie and the generally disliked or misunderstood John Dungworth, followed by the imput of funds of a new chairman in Dean Hoyle, raising expectations only for them to be dashed by the appointment of a manager approaching retirement age, steeped in lower league experience mainly accumulated some years ago.

This at a time when many progressive clubs are embracing the need for new, leaner, younger managers with new, fresh, modern ideas.
Like Roberto Martinez at Swansea City, Aidy Boothroyd at Watford, and Gareth Southgate at Middlesbrough, who are fashioning attractive, succesful sides.
Even dare we say it Leeds United, who didnt do too badly with Dennis Wise and Gus Poyet before they departed.

Whilst it is undenieble that Stan Ternent has been successful with Burnley and Bury in this level of football, the implication of the boards decision is that Huddersfield Town is a club who needs to follow and is now on a par with or behind these two clubs.

Clearly at league level we are lower than Burnley currently, but to suggest despite that clubs heritage, that it is comparable to Huddersfield is quite wrong.
Its heritage and past success is not on a par with the terriers, nor is the Town itself of similar size, being less than half the population and having many more neighbour clubs to compete with for fans.

As for Bury they are not even worth mentioning in any comparison to Huddersfield.

The appointment of Stan Ternent is in my view a very clear sign of the boards lack of ambition, and understanding of the fans and the great club which they run.

In addition Ronnie Jepson fine and committed player that he was for the terriers is a failure at management level with Gillingham, and the Ternent/Jepson coupling has been tried before at that club and failed resulting in relegation.

What hope is their that Jepson being groomed as successor to Ternent now will prove any more successful at Huddersfield than it did at Gillingham

Whilst the fans will come around if success is forthcoming, for now they like I, are probably still shocked at the short sighted, appointment of Ternent, that is lacking vision and confidence, and recognition of the true status and pulling power of the club.

We will of course continue to report on all things Huddersfield Town.

Even if and despite the fact that this boards view that the club in its centenery year is, after 100 years of history, heritage and tremendous support, now in their eyes like Bury FC.

What a wasted opportunity