Full Breakdown
Huddersfield Town Appoints Martin Drury as Permanent Head Coach
5/28/2026, 11:01:57 PM
Appointment Details and Immediate Context
Huddersfield Town announced in May that Martin Drury, 40, is appointed head coach of the first team. The appointment followed a three-week recruitment process that concluded unanimously. Drury, who served as caretaker after Liam Manning’s compassionate leave, will be assisted by former Town striker Jon Stead.
Recent Coaching Instability and Drury’s Interim Tenure
Huddersfield entered the 2025-26 season having already employed three head coaches in under a year: Lee Grant, Liam Manning and now Drury. Manning was placed on compassionate leave after the death of his newborn son, Theo, in October 2024 and was confirmed not to return. Drury joined the staff in January 2026 and assumed caretaker duties in March, overseeing the final seven matches.
Key Figures
Martin Drury – Huddersfield-born coach who retired at 28 and has coached at Bradford City, Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion, Valencia and Brentford. Jon Stead – former Town striker, assistant. Chris Markham – sporting director who led the recruitment. Liam Manning – former head coach who left on compassionate grounds.
Performance Data
In his seven-match caretaker spell, Drury recorded two wins, one loss and four draws, guiding Huddersfield to a ninth-place finish in League One. The club described the period as “final seven games in difficult circumstances.”
Official Club Statements
The club said Drury’s appointment followed a thorough recruitment process overseen by sporting director Chris Markham. It highlighted Drury’s recent performance, his six-month involvement with the coaching staff and the desire for continuity after a turbulent season, expressing confidence that his experience will stabilise the squad.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We've had the benefit of seeing Martin's work for the last six months,” — Chris Markham, Sporting Director, Huddersfield Town.
- “It was immediately clear why he has a reputation across football as an elite coach, but his leadership over the final seven games in difficult circumstances was impressive too.” — Chris Markham, Sporting Director, Huddersfield Town.
- “Huddersfield Town is delighted to announce the appointment of Martin Drury as Head Coach of the Men’s First Team,” — Official club statement, Huddersfield Town.
- “Even with this in mind, we quickly decided that we had to run a full process to identify our next head coach.” — Chris Markham, Sporting Director, Huddersfield Town.
Conflicting Reports on Drury’s Coaching Timeline
Sources differ on Drury’s previous roles. One account says he moved to Manchester United’s academy in 2022 after six years at Bradford City, then served at West Bromwich Albion from August 2024 to January 2025, followed by a half-season at Valencia and a stint at Brentford. Other reports list the same clubs without dates, leaving the sequence unclear.
Future Outlook
Drury will begin the upcoming League One season aiming to improve on the ninth-place finish. The club expects his familiarity with the squad and coaching background to provide the stability needed for a higher league position.
