Why Huddersfield Town have made triple addition to coaching set-up - Lee Grant has confirmed the reasoning | OneFootball

Huddersfield Town have announced their coaching staff to support new manager Lee Grant, and he has confirmed the reasons behind the choices.

Huddersfield Town have announced a three-man coaching team to back new manager Lee Grant, as they look forward to the new season.

Huddersfield appointed Grant to his first managerial position at the end of May. They had a disappointing 2024-25 season, tailing off from a chase for a League One play-off place and finishing 10th. They sacked manager Michael Duff in March with Jon Worthington replacing him as interim manager until the end of the season.

A new manager hasn't been their only backroom staff change of the summer, though. Grant has brought in a new staff of coaches to support him as he starts his rebuild ahead of the start of the 2025-26 season.

Huddersfield name their new backroom team

The Huddersfield website has now confirmed the identity of the three assistant coaches who will be supporting Grant throughout the new season.

Marc Bridge-Wilkinson is a former Huddersfield coach who left the club a decade ago to work in the academy at Liverpool, becoming their under-18s coach in 2020. Bridge-Wilkinson also had a 14-year playing career, which took in Derby County, Port Vale, Stockport County, Bradford City and Carlisle United, among others.

Paul McShane is already familiar to Grant from their time together at Manchester United. McShane joined United as a player-coach of the under-23 team in 2021, and has since been their under-18s Development Coach, under-21s Assistant Manager, and Youth Manager. He's also the assistant manager to the Republic of Ireland under-21s.

Finally, Jonathan Robinson has been brought in. He's a former assistant of Steven Gerrard's in Saudi Arabia, and has also worked at Bristol Rovers, Swansea City and Liverpool. He comes from a background in analytics.

Grant's comments on the appointments made indicate that there is a degree of modernisation going on behind the scenes. He told the club website: “I am thrilled to welcome Marc, Paul, and Jonathan to Huddersfield Town – three exceptional professionals who join us as Assistant Coaches.

“Their diverse backgrounds, dedication, and commitment to excellence will be invaluable to us as we continue to grow and build something special at this club. Each brings a unique outlook and energy that aligns with our values and future aspirations.

“Their leadership and character will play a major role in amplifying the work that we do on and off the pitch, as we work towards success together.

“I look forward to working alongside them, and I am confident that they will make a significant and positive contribution to Huddersfield Town.”

Two of the three come from youth coaching backgrounds, which will be important if Huddersfield are to bring through the young players that will be needed if the club are to break through financial barriers and reach their full potential. And the decision to bring someone in with a background in analytics suggests that the club could be more data-driven and focused on youth under Grant in the future.