Will new job title affect how Huddersfield Town approach transfers?

In the wake of Danny Cowley’s sacking as Huddersfield Town manager, it has been widely reported that the club are now looking for a head coach rather than a manager to come in.

We’re going to take a look at the difference between these two roles and what is might mean for Huddersfield Town and Phil Hodgkinson’s “vision” for the club’s future.

The difference between a head coach and a manager

The two roles are very similar, as both are the person that takes charge of the first team, picks the tactics and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the football team.

It gets a bit different when it comes to off the field matters, particularly recruitment of new players. The manager would expect the pick the players the team buy whereas a head coach is only part of the group if people involved and often doesn’t have the final say.

Managers typically have more sway behind the scenes and take on more responsibility as a result.

A Head Coach will usually work alongside (or underneath) a Director of Football type of person (at Town this is Leigh Bromby in the Head of First Team Operations role). These are the men that provide a link between the boardroom and changing room. In theory, this allows the head coach more time to focus on the on-field issues and the Director of Football can sort out the business side.

Danny Cowley – Head Coach or Manager?

It was thought that Danny Cowley initially refused Town’s advances because he was offered the Head Coach role. It was only when we went back in and promised him more control over transfers and the title of manager that he agreed to the job. Or at least that’s the story I heard.

If the above is true, then it makes the official story of Cowley leaving because of a difference of opinion about the future direction of the club a bit odd.

If the agreement was for Cowley to have authority over transfers, then it seems like he should have been trusted to choose the players we need to achieve success. It sounds like Phil Hodgkinson wasn’t willing to allow him that level of control.

What are the advantages to having a head coach instead of a manager?

The structure of having a head coach is common abroad and has been increasingly used in England. The idea is that a head coach is more disposable than a manager as they given a squad of players and told to do the best they can with them.

It avoids, in theory at least, having to completely rebuild your squad every time you change the man in charge. Head coaches are often expected to follow the club identity, in terms of the style of play, so have less freedom around tactical approaches (though this will vary depending on the club).

Having a head coach means that you can avoid being overly reliant on a single charismatic figurehead (such as Alex Ferguson at Manchester United) and have continuity at the club, even if you regularly change head coach.

The consistency in this model is supposed to come from the director of football. They have an eye on the long term plan and the head coach focuses on the immediate pressure to get results. The difficulty for Huddersfield Town is that we can’t seem to keep a director of football for more than two minutes (or Head of Football Operations / Head of First Team Operations / Whatever they are calling it this week).

What’s wrong with having a head coach instead of a manager?

While this structure is growing in popularity in English football, it’s not hugely popular with the fans. Clubs are often keen to stress how much input the head coach has in recruitment but it’s not usually the same as a manager. Most fans would prefer to see their manager in charge of transfers rather than anonymous figures behind the scenes.

This model has the potential to create a situation where the head coach is handed players he doesn’t want and isn’t keen on. While Chairman may prefer having more control over the recruitment process by including some form of “transfer committee” it lessens the head coaches ability to get the players they want.

What does the change from manager to head coach mean for Huddersfield Town?

I don’t know what caused the bust up between Cowley and Hodgkinson but it’s likely that control over transfers was a factor. Changing back to having a Head Coach suggests the club want a more collegiate approach to things, with transfers agreed between a variety of people rather than just the manager.

Being cynical for a moment, it could mean the club don’t want to spend much money on players in the upcoming window and would prefer the new coach makes the most of what we currently have.

I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw some of the previously shunned first team players brought back into the fold to get a second chance. Diakhaby, Mbenza and Kongolo are the first examples I can think of that might get an opportunity to impress under the next head coach. Youth players may also be expected to fill the gaps in the squad where possible.

Is this a good move?

The success of this change will entirely depend on the people involved. If Town get the right head coach and the people around him give him the support and strategy to succeed then it could be a good move. If not then we could see more comings and goings of coaches and directors of football.

I personally prefer having a manager in charge and choosing the players they want to sign. But that view seems to be old fashioned these days and I may be wrong about it.