Grayson Closing In On Transfer Targets

Simon Grayson spoke earlier about how he is already closing in on potential Huddersfield Town players in the transfer window. Grayson revelaed that he has spoken to two players on a face-to-face basis and has submitted his targets to both Dean Hoyle and Nigel Clibbens.

Huddersfield Town will kick start their season with an away tie against Preston in the newly named Capital One Cup and Grayson believes that travelling fans shall be seeing a very different Blue & White squad with a few new name players. The strongest rumours are those of Republic Of Ireland internatial duo Keith Andrews & Paul Green but they are also a few others including Adam Clayton (Leeds) and Simon Gillett (Doncaster).

This is what terriers boss Simon Grayson had to say about the transfer situation of newly promoted Huddersfield Town;

"After talks with both Dean Hoyle and Nigel Clibbens, I've drawn up a list which is realistic within our budget. We're working hard to bring in those concerned and I have already had face-to-face talks with two players and a number of agents."

"We're still at that stage where the market is relatively slow, but I'd like to get as many of the deals done as soon as I can in order to have the bulk of the squad together for pre-season."

Grayson also mentioned that new contracts have been offered to Bennett, Lee & Clarke and that their situations are still to be decided in the very near future.

"Obviously the players need some time to think things over, but we won't let things drag on too long because we need to know where we are."
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Rhodes Fighting For London 2012 Spot

Jordan Rhodes has reportedly made it to the first cut of the 2012 British Olympic football team. Stuart Pearce is getting closer to announcing his 18 man squad for the London games and prolific goalscorer Rhodes, who has scored 40 goals for Huddersfield Town this season, may well just be included.
Stuart Pearce has already submitted his 35 man shortlist to FIFA but this is yet to be announced to the public. Earlier on in the season, Pearce saw hitman Rhodes put a very impressive five past Wycombe Wanderers as scouts from numerous premiership & championship clubs kept tabs on the Scottish international. The question now is will he manage to make the final squad and feature for Britain in the Olympics on behalf of Huddersfield Town?

There is no reason why Rhodes won't make the cut seen as though he finished the top goalscorer in the whole of England with a massive 40 goals in all competitions.
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Update On Sean Morrison

Sean Morrison Loves It At Htafc

Sean Morrison is a favorite among Town players & fans but the centre back who came to the terriers on loan last season from Reading still does now know where his future lies. Huddersfield Town coach Glynn Snodin has mentioned that the club are keeping its eyes on the situation regarding Morrison;

“Sean has made it clear he loves it here and would like to play for us in the Championship and we certainly love him, so we’ll see what happens. In the first instance it’s very much down to what Brian McDermott, the Reading manager, wants to do." 

 “Does he want to keep Sean for the top-flight campaign, does he want to sell him or is he prepared to loan him out again? Until we know the answer to those questions then we can’t really progress anything, but we know Brian very well, he is a smashing fellow and we know there won’t be any problems, he will just let us know honestly exactly where he stands."

Damien Johnson Not Returning To Huddersfield

Former loanee Damien Johnson will not be with the terriers for their season in the Championship after promotion at Wembley. The former Northern Ireland international midfielder has appeared 39 times for Town in his two loan spells and played a massive part in this season's successful promotion campaign. Unfortunately though, Johnson and the club could not come to a contract agreement together and so he will not be playing in the blue & white stripes next season.

Chief Executive of Huddersfield Town, Nigel Clibbens, thanked Damien for his role that he has played in getting the terriers into the Championship;

"The Club would like to place its thanks on record to Damien for the contribution he made in Town's promotion to the Championship. When he returned to the team late in the season he made a really big difference."

"Damien has been a model professional during his time as a Huddersfield Town player; the dedication and focus he showed in battling his injury was inspirational. When we needed his experience and desire he stepped up and made a difference and for that we are all very grateful."


"Unfortunately we could not negotiate a deal for next season that both parties saw as mutually beneficial. We wish Damien all the best and he will always receive a warm welcome here."
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Glynn Snodin on Rhodes

Huddersfield Town coach Glynn Snodin has today expressed his positivity about keeping Scotsman Jordan Rhodes with the terriers for at least another season in the Championship. Rhodes who scored 40 goals for Town last season including two in the play-off semi finals is being closely followed by a group of teams including Celtic, West Ham, Fulham & Reading.

"It was fantastic for Jordan to sign off with Wembley and then get two goals for the Under 21s before leaving for a family holiday. Scoring goals is what Jordan does best and, with regard to his future, nothing will be finalised until he comes back from having a well-earned rest."

"Jordan has got a lot to run on his contract, he loves playing for Huddersfield Town and we love him, so hopefully when he comes back everything will be hunky dory. Jordan is such a gentleman that we know everything will be done with dignity,"

"I am sure he will sit down with his agent, the chairman (Dean Hoyle) and chief executive (Nigel Clibbens) and sort things out as necessary – but we want him and Jordan wants to stay."
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Dream Come True For Smithies

Alex Smithies is the latest Huddersfield Town hero and he spoke to the Examiner earlier today about the final at Wembley along with his future at the terriers. Smithies only got into the squad after goalkeeper Ian Bennett suffered a hand injury in the second semi-final leg against MK Dons but after his own season long injuries, Alex rose to the occassion and impressed every single Huddersfield Town fan out there. Smithies described the whole Wembley experience as 'unbelievable' and 'fantastic' and something he 'shall never forget'.

“It’s all been a dream come true, really, especially for someone like me who was born in Golcar, has been raised in Huddersfield and supported the club all my life. I had so many of my friends and family down at Wembley and they were all there again for the parade to the Civic Reception at the Town Hall, and I’m just glad I’ve been able to make them feel so proud." “The whole club deserves to be on the up though, and especially our brilliant supporters, who we can’t thank enough for their backing. No-one deserves it more than the chairman, though, who should take enormous credit for what has been achieved. He was exactly what the club needed when he took over, to help Town get to the next level and, now it’s been achieved, I’m sure he is just as proud as the rest of us. What we want to do now is take it a little bit further, but let’s move forward one step at a time and see where it takes us.”

“Penalties are a lottery and you just have to do your best. You might know the way a player usually shoots, but they can always change their mind, so you just have to back yourself to go the right way and make a stop when you can." “I had a list on the bottom of my drinks bottle of who their takers were and where they shoot, but it only went to six or seven and I had to face 11!" “Fortunately it was us who came through and, while it was hard on Steve Simonsen, this club deserves to be in the Championship and now we are.” “I can tell everyone that the players are so grateful for all the support we have had, not only at Wembley and for the homecoming, but throughout the season. We are really thankful that we’ve been able to reach the Championship, that we can look forward to a great season and that we’ve been able to give them what the deserve. We really appreciate everything the fans do for us.”

Peter Clarke Still Buzzing From Promotion

Skipper Peter Clarke is still on a high after achieving promotion on Saturday at Wembley. The strong centre back played all 120 minutes in the final against Sheffield United and the captain also cooly slid his penalty in to turn the penalty shoot-out around.  This is what he had to say 6 days after the drama that ended up with Huddersfield Town sealing Championship football next season;

"I can't really put it into words! It's an amazing feeling - the complete polar opposite of last year. That feeling hung around for far too long, but I don't want this feeling to end. For the most part I enjoyed the game - although I suppose it was a little bit nervy towards the end! Thankfully things went our way.

Peter Clarke enjoys the moment with manager Simon Grayson

"We had one or two opportunities and perhaps on the whole we felt we deserved to win in normal time, but I thought Steve Simonsen had a terrific game. He ultimately missed the penalty that decided the tie and although I don't know exactly how he felt, I have a very good idea."

Clarke won the coin toss at Wembley and sent the penalty kicks over to the Town fauthful which he claimed was a big part in the Sheffield United penalty misses;

"After the first three I think we were wondering! I was fortunate enough to win the toss and we immediately decided we wanted to take the penalties at our end. I think the fans did everything they possibly could to put the Sheffield United players off."