Forget Wilder, Holden or Richardson: Huddersfield Town should be eyeing 49-year-old to replace Fotheringham: Opinion

Huddersfield Town are now beginning their search for a third manager this season, after the sacking of Mark Fotheringham.

The Terriers sacked Fotheringham after only four months in charge of the club after he was brought in to replace Danny Schofield.

However, his tenure in Yorkshire wasn’t a great success, as he only managed five wins out of the 21 games, he took charge of, and in their last two games, they dropped points against two of their closest rivals.

His spell at Huddersfield was Fotheringham’s first managerial job, and the dismissal of the Scotsman means the Terriers are looking for their fifth permanent manager in less than three years.

Now, Huddersfield head into another crucial game at the foot of the table against Wigan Athletic managerless, knowing their next appointment has to be right if they are to stay in the Championship.

There has already been several names linked to the post, with Chris Wilder and Leam Richardson, while Charlton Athletic manager Dean Holden is also said to be under consideration.

One name who hasn’t come under thought and should be doing so, is Wycombe Wanderers boss Gareth Ainsworth.

The 49-year-old has been in charge of the Chairboys for 10 years now, and during that time he has performed miracles at the club.

Ainsworth has saved Wycombe from relegation on several occasions and led the Chairboys to an unexpected promotion to the Championship. However, it isn’t just those achievements that make him a sensible choice for Huddersfield.

The 49-year-old has managed to build a team time after time on a limited budget, even when his best players have left the club.

He has built teams that have a mixture of experience and youth, but more importantly, he has players that are willing to fight for him and do the dirty work when it is required. He has now built a team that has gone from being stuck at the bottom end of the EFL to one that is expected to be near the top end of League One.

Quiz: Think you’re a hardcore Huddersfield Town fan? Try score 20/20 on this quiz all about the club

Ainsworth has gone under the radar in terms of the job he has done at Wycombe, but when you watch his side play, it is clear what he demands and expects. There is no hiding place in an Ainsworth team, and while they are a team that may not be pretty on the eye, he has got them believing that they can achieve anything.

Just like Huddersfield in recent times, Wycombe have been defying the odds and have become a side that no one wants to play. This is exactly what the Terriers need to return to, and that’s why Ainsworth should be considered going forward.

He fits the kind of profile the club are looking for, and there are similarities between Huddersfield and Wycombe. It is surprising that Ainsworth is still at Adams Park, and not because of anything against Wycombe, but because he is a manager who has been doing a marvellous job for a while now and no one seems to have taken notice.

Therefore, Huddersfield do need to take notice now and act swiftly to tie up Ainsworth, as he will produce a team that will give their all on the football pitch.