Huddersfield Town have sacked manager Lee Grant after a run of three wins from their last league 12 games.
The former Man United goalkeeper, 42, was given his first managerial job by the League One side last May, with the aim taking them back to the Championship.
But a 3-1 defeat against Burton Albion on Saturday proved to be the final straw and Grant leaves the Terriers in sixth place, 16 points behind league leaders Cardiff City but still in playoff contention.
Narcis Pelach, 37, has emerged as an early contender for the vacant position, having served as interim boss at Kirklees Stadium in 2022 and 2023 before becoming manager of Stoke City and later coached with Graham Potter at West Ham.
Grant’s dismissal means that Carlos Corberan in 2021-22 remains the last Huddersfield boss to lead the club for a whole campaign.
‘Entering this season with renewed optimism and hope having proactively reshaped our first team throughout the summer, we were clear about not only our ambitions, but how we wanted to achieve them and the type of team on the pitch we wanted to enjoy alongside our supporters,’ Huddersfield owner and chairman Kevin Nagle said in a statement.
Huddersfield have sacked manager Lee Grant after a run of three wins from their last 12 games
Former Stoke City boss Narcis Pelach has emerged as an early contender for the vacant role
‘Sadly, on current form, none of those objectives are being met and, with just under half of the season remaining, we feel no other option but to make a change to put the side back on track.
‘I would like to thank Lee for his efforts and wish him nothing but the best for his future career. Our previously stated aims and desires for the season remain the same and we will be making a change with those ambitions still firmly in mind.’
Grant, whose playing career saw him rack up hundreds of appearances for sides such as Sheffield Wednesday, Stoke City, Burnley and Derby County, questioned his team’s desire after their defeat to Burton.
‘We created moments today, but we didn’t take them,’ he said. ‘There has to be more from within – spirit, collective energy and character to go and take that game and put a side that we know we can be better than to the sword.
‘For me it comes down to the fight and the duels. Winning the second balls and the spirit, and if we don’t get that right any game can be difficult and today is a case in point.
‘There isn’t enough collective will and intent from within and that’s not good enough for the stage we are in.
‘I look at Burton and they stayed together. They showed character and belief despite us dominating the ball and they stayed ready for their big moments and took them.’
Grant had been part of the coaching team at Ipswich Town from 2022 before taking the job at Huddersfield.
