Charlton Athletic, Leyton Orient and Birmingham City rivals make big head coach appointment

Charlton Athletic and Leyton Orient rivals Huddersfield Town have appointed Michael Duff as their new head coach ahead of a return to League One next season.

The Terriers endured a torrid Championship campaign last time out, finishing in 23rd place and falling back into the third tier for the first time since 2012. The Yorkshire outfit will be looking to bounce straight back up, but that is an ambition shared by many in League One.

The Addicks have been revitalised by Nathan Jones since the Welshman's arrival, putting together a 14-game unbeaten run to avoid relegation. Meanwhile, the Os looked to be play-off contenders at one point this season as the club looked at home on its return to the division.

Duff has a history in the league, having reached the play-off final with Barnsley in 2023, only to lose to Sheffield Wednesday. The 46-year-old moved onto Swansea City last summer but left the club in December and has been out of work since.

The former Cheltenham Town player and Northern Ireland international won League Two with Cheltenham in 2021 and went on to take the side to their highest-ever league finish in the 2021/22 campaign as they placed 15th in League One.

Speaking to the Huddersfield Town website after his appointment, Duff said: “As soon as discussions started with the Club, I wanted to jump at the chance to be Head Coach of Huddersfield Town. Since leaving my last role, I’ve had time to reflect, recharge and focus on what the next challenge I wanted to take on would look like. Whatever was to come had to be right and be a good fit, and that is exactly what this feels like. I know that our supporters expect a certain level of commitment, desire, high energy and passion from their play, and those are the high standards I’ve kept for all of my sides.

“My talks with the Chairman Kevin, CEO Jake and Sporting Director Mark have been incredibly positive, and I feel like we’ve been on the same page since day one. I know the Club, the area and the fans from having crossed paths in the past, but now I want to get to know them properly from a place of belonging - and above all else, I want our supporters to have pride in their team again.

“This is a special Club with a magnificent history and exciting future, so it’s a real honour to have the opportunity to be part of that. I can guarantee that I will give my all for Huddersfield Town - that’s what I’ll be asking of my players too - and together alongside our supporters we have a pre-season and campaign ahead that we’ll be ready to attack.”

Duff had been named as a candidate for the vacant Charlton Athletic role in January but it was Jones chosen as the successor to Michael Appleton.

Charlton Athletic last met Huddersfield Town in February 2020 and were handed a 4-0 defeat at the John Smith's Stadium in the Championship encounter. Leyton Orient played the club in a 2-0 friendly defeat in 2015, with the last competitive match taking place in 2012 when the Os lost 3-1 at home.