Exclusive: Huddersfield Town backed to appoint ex-Man City man, he "fits the mould" | OneFootball

David Prutton gives his take on the news that Huddersfield Town are interested in Brian Barry-Murphy.

David Prutton has admitted that Brian Barry-Murphy would "fit the mould" of what Huddersfield Town should be looking for in their new head coach.

Michael Duff was sacked as head coach of the Terriers in early March and it appeared that Jon Worthington would take over the role for the rest of the season. However, poor results have forced him under scrutiny and Mike Keegan of MailSport believes the club are now exploring options for a new manager before then.

According to Keegan, Huddersfield have two firm candidates with Paul Warne and Brian Barry-Murphy leading the race. David Wagner was also considered, but it is understood that the German would only arrive at the right time - which he doesn't perceive to be now.

Barry-Murphy has experience in League One as manager of Rochdale, but since 2021 he has managed Manchester City's under-23s and is currently the technical coach for Leicester City.

His record at Dale isn't particularly impressive either, with the 46-year-old averaging just 1.16 points per game across 105 fixtures. Nevertheless, he has been away from first-team management for some time, and this return could provide the spark he needs - both for himself and for Huddersfield.

David Prutton urges Huddersfield to chase Barry-Murphy deal

Speaking exclusively to Football League World about the possibility of Brian Barry-Murphy taking over at Huddersfield Town, David Prutton stated that he believes the Leicester coach would seamlessly fit into the role.

"Brian Barry-Murphy is highly coveted; you see a lot of chat about him, given his ability as a number two," Prutton told FLW.

"He is another man who fits the mould for Huddersfield Town, with Paul Warne being linked and the potentially glorious return of David Wagner.

"The experience that he has got and, from the little I have seen of his teams in the flesh, it is very much made in his image. He requires, as all managers do, that intense work ethic, the ability to create and finish off games, and the invaluable experience he would have earned from a big football club like Leicester City rounds out his coaching CV."

Brian Barry-Murphy may lack experience

The concern for Huddersfield supporters will be whether Barry-Murphy has the necessary experience for the role. His time at Rochdale was far from impressive, and he has a relegation on his record after taking Dale down in the 2020-21 season.

Compared to the candidates he is up against, this must be a genuine concern, and most Terriers supporters would surely view it as the 'cheap option' if the club were to go down this route.

Paul Warne has previously secured four promotions from League One, while Wagner famously led Huddersfield to the Premier League.

Admittedly, Barry-Murphy has enjoyed success at youth level, but that is by no means an assurance at this stage. This Huddersfield side looks like a team in need of direction, and it seems unlikely that they would find it under a head coach still in the early stages of his career.

Opting for him would be a risky move, and pursuing a more experienced, hard-hitting manager would seem the wisest course of action.