Huddersfield ready to appoint ex-Swansea boss Michael Duff as new manager… on one condition

MICHAEL DUFF’S hopes of a return to management at Huddersfield will hinge on whether he moves to the area.

Owner Kevin Nagle is keen on the next boss living locally and Duff is based in the South West with his family.

GettyMichael Duff is wanted by Huddersfield Town to be their next manager[/caption]

Port Vale are keen to talk Darren Moore into a quick managerial return.

Moore left Huddersfield last month but may be open to dropping into League One at Vale Park after Andy Crosby’s exit.

Duff, 46, was relieved of his duties as Swansea boss back in December.

It was a role he held for just six months, but with only six wins from 21 games he was soon axed.

Previously, the ex-Northern Ireland international managed Barnsley, where he scored greater success.

Duff led the Tykes to the play-off final in 2023, before they lost to rivals Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 in extra time.

He is the bookies favourite for the job, with Paolo Bianco and current caretaker Jon Worthington also potentially sounded out for the role.

Worthington took Town to Southampton on Saturday, where the visitors lost a thrilling contest.

They led the contest 2-0 and 3-2, before a spectacular collapse in the last 10 minutes saw them fall to a 5-3 defeat.

After the game Worthington told BBC Radio Leeds: “I hate losing football matches, and the players do as well, so we’re disappointed from that perspective, but I told the lads that we’ll take the positives.

“There was real intent from the first minute, I was proud of their efforts and they followed the game-plan to a T, but Southampton are a real quality side and came strong at the end.

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“The last thing I wanted to do was come here, sit in a low block and lose 2-0. We had to respect them for the run they’re on but I believe in this group of players and what they can do.

“The plan was, at the right times, to get after them, and we did, but a couple of their goals were worldies, like the (Joe Rothwell) volley, and sometimes you just have to hold your hands up. It was nothing to do with defensive moments.

“At 2-2 we had the character to go again and in that moment we scored but had two or three chances as well where on another day you go on to get a couple of goals advantage.”