Neil Warnock to leave Huddersfield after midweek game against Stoke

Neil Warnock is to leave Huddersfield after Wednesday’s home game against Stoke.

The 74-year-old, who signed a one-year contract in the summer having joined the club on a short-term deal in February in order to save them from relegation from the Championship, has agreed he and assistant Ronnie Jepson will step down from their roles at the club to progress plans put in place after an internal overhaul.

“I can confirm Wednesday will be Neil and Ronnie’s last game at the football club,” said Huddersfield’s chief executive, Jake Edwards. “I’d like to express our huge gratitude for everything they’ve accomplished over the past seven months. Few management duos could have kept us in the Championship and they’ve solidified their legendary status.

“We feel we are ready to move forward with our long-term plans to drive the club back into the Premier League and to make a longer-term managerial appointment. We have discussed that and the timing of it with Neil, and after spending time with his coaching staff he has graciously agreed now is the time for that to happen.”

Warnock returned for a second spell at Huddersfield in February, 20 years after his first, and masterminded an incredible escape from the drop. His short-term stay was extended into a new one-year contact to help the club’s new American owner, Kevin Nagle, oversee a revamp off the pitch and he was aware his tenure was unlikely to be for the duration of his contract.

“Kevin has a three-year plan to reach the Premier League. I thought it [his departure] would be about Christmas time, but once they told me they wanted to bring someone in I think they had to move on quickly,” said Warnock. “If you’re not wanted you want to go straight away. I don’t mean that how it maybe sounds – we always said we’d be straight with each other and that’s what we’ve done. I’m disappointed and I’ll miss my players.”