Ipswich Town coach emerges as surprise Huddersfield Town manager vacancy contender | OneFootball

Lee Grant is reported to be in the running for the top job at the John Smith's Stadium

Former Manchester United goalkeeper turned Ipswich Town coach Lee Grant is a surprise contender for the vacant managerial position at Huddersfield Town, reports have suggested.

Huddersfield have been looking for a new manager since sacking Michael Duff in March.

Jon Worthington held the fort until the end of the 2024/25 season, but the Terriers have been looking elsewhere for a longer-term replacement after the team continued a slide away from the play-off places to finish in 10th place in the final League One table.

Lee Grant under consideration for Huddersfield Town manager job

Journalist Alan Nixon reported this morning that Lee Grant, an experienced former EFL goalkeeper whose last club as a player was as a backup stopper at Man United, is "a shock" option for the Huddersfield vacancy.

Grant joined the coaching staff of Ipswich Town under Kieran McKenna in 2022, but has made no secret of his desire to transition into management.

In January 2023, in an interview with the Premier League, he said: "A lot of goalkeepers have that leadership gene, where they love to coach, manage, drive, and really push people on.

"I've always enjoyed that sort of role, and for a long while I’ve been interested in management."

As a coach who was at Portman Road as the club eased through two successive promotions from League One to the Premier League, that Huddersfield - another League One club who've had a taste of the Premier League in recent years - should be interested in him isn't too much of a shock.

Over a nineteen-year playing career, Grant spent 14 years playing in the Championship for five different clubs, as well as making 31 Premier League appearances for Stoke City.

Huddersfield Town face big risk if going down unproven Lee Grant route

Huddersfield Town need a change of direction following a disappointing season in League One following relegation from the Championship at the end of the 2023/24 season.

They finished 2024-25 in 10th position, tailing off to mid-table after spending the vast majority of the first three-quarters of the season in the play-off places, which owner Kevin Nagle wouldn't have been too impressed by.

Despite reports of Ruben Selles being in talks over the job last week, FLW exclusively reported that the 42-year-old Spaniard is unlikely to take the job, any many other managers are now going to seem like a downgrade on the ex-Hull boss.

It may be a case that Huddersfield do decide to take a punt on a newcomer like Grant, who has zero managerial experience, but he has been learning off a highly-rated boss in the form of Kieran McKenna, and pair him up with an assistant that has been around the block so to speak and it's an appointment that could work potentially.

However, it is still a major risk for Huddersfield if they do opt for Grant - it's one that could very much backfire on them if he's chosen as the Duff successor and he doesn't live up to high expectations.