Wadsworth doesn't fear Terriers pressure

New Huddersfield manager Mick Wadsworth has pledged not to ‘hide’ from the weight of expectation at the McAlpine Stadium.

Previous boss Lou Macari was sacked after his failure to secure promotion into the First Division, but Wadsworth is not concerned by similar pressures being applied to him.

‘‘We can’t hide from these things,’’ said Wadsworth, after being unveiled at a press conference held earlier today.

‘‘I think everyone would expect us to have a tilt at promotion.

‘‘I think we have a realistic chance, certainly of the play-offs and getting out of this division as soon as possible.

‘‘As a good friend of mine, and a good Yorkshireman, Mick McCarthy likes to say: ‘Your backside’s on the bacon slicer right away’.’’

Wadsworth, who was born and bred in Yorkshire, sees his appointment at the McAlpine Stadium as a homecoming.

‘‘I’m very proud and very grateful to the board for giving me this opportunity,’’ he said.

‘‘To be back home in Yorkshire is fantastic. This is a club about which I know much of its history - I’m very, very proud.’’

After being relegated from Division One on the last day of the 2000-01 season, Macari led the Terriers into the Second Division play-offs last season only to see them lose to Brentford at the semi-final stage.

As at most Football League clubs this summer money is tight, but Wadsworth is confident he is inheriting a squad good enough to challenge at the top of the table.

‘‘The playing staff is more than decent and the priority is to assess the overall structure of the club,’’ said Wadsowrth.

‘‘I hope to have a highly-organised team for sure, but more importantly I hope the team will play watchable, exciting football. I see no reason to change that philosophy.

‘‘I know one or two of the players reasonably well and I know most of them from knowing the scene that you work in.

‘‘I think it’s no secret that finances are very tight, but that’s the case in football generally now -

especially in the Football League.

‘‘The spiral of getting into a financial mess must be rectified throughout the game.

‘‘But compared to many clubs we’re in a better position because we’ve got a very good group of players.

‘‘Pre-season starts on Wednesday so I’ve got to get cracking as soon as these formalities are over.’’

Huddersfield chairman David Taylor revealed that Wadsworth was recommended by newly-knighted Newcastle manager Sir Bobby Robson.

Wadsworth spent time as head coach at Newcastle under Robson, and the former England boss still holds him in high esteem.

‘‘Huddersfield Town are very proud to announce the appointment of one of the foremost coaches in the country as their new manager,’’ said Taylor.

‘‘He comes with the recommendation of one of the most famous managers in the country - Sir Bobby Robson.

‘‘Mick Wadsworth is highly respected throughout the game and it speaks volumes that Bobby Robson did not want him to leave Newcastle last year.’’

Wadsworth also revealed: ‘‘I spoke to Bobby on Friday. I speak to him more than a few times a week.

‘‘We’re very close friends and I’m very lucky to have him looking over my shoulder and helping me.’’

The former Carlisle, Colchester and Scarborough boss’ playing career consisted of just 19 league games for Scunthorpe in the mid-1970s, but he has since earned a reputation as one of the most progressive coaches in the country.

He helped to bring through Matt Jansen, Rory Delap and Lomana Lua Lua during his time at Carlisle and Colchester and will continue to place a high priority on youth development at Huddersfield.

‘‘The youth development is central to my philosophy for the club,’’ he said.