Dean Hoyle issues an update to Town fans on several matters
- An update from Dean Hoyle
- Dean to continue as Chief Executive of the Club
- Hoyle issues rallying call ahead of important games
As we approach the most important time of what has been a fantastic Sky Bet Championship season, it feels like the perfect time to update everyone on what’s happening at the Club.
I want to begin by thanking everyone for making me feel so welcome upon my return to this day-to-day role at the Club. Your kindness has made a big impact on me as I’ve settled back into daily life here.
I’ll begin on the transfer of shares from PURE Sports Consultancy, which is still an ongoing process. It’s fair to say that there is more red tape involved that we first envisaged, but the most important factor is that there is still a strong desire from both Phil Hodgkinson and I to complete the process.
I hope I will have progress to share with you over the next few months. It doesn’t change anything on a day-to-day basis, however – I will continue to fund the Club as we move forward.
Given we are now at the business-end of the season, and with the share transfer still ongoing, I’ve made the decision that it is best for me to continue as Chief Executive. I have a fantastic team around me, and I don’t believe that bringing a newcomer into the Club at this stage would add anything to the mix. I am at the Club daily; I know Huddersfield Town as well as anyone and we are in a good place.
After a difficult three years for the Club, with relegation from the Premier League followed by two battles against relegation in the Sky Bet Championship, I must praise everyone who has been involved in getting us to this point before my return, from Phil Hodgkinson to Leigh Bromby, Carlos Corberán and all the fantastic members of our staff.
We all know from experience that everything must be perfectly aligned to bring success to Huddersfield Town, and that’s exactly how it feels. Clearly the players are integral to everything, and I can tell you from first-hand experience that they really want this – there’s a great togetherness about them. Whatever happens between now and the season’s end, they can never be accused of lacking desire.
We’ve tried to capitalise on this forward momentum by running several ticket promotions in the second half of this season. We’re always conscious that our Season Cards should offer the best value – and they definitely do – but we also wanted to take the opportunity to reengage supporters who may have fallen away from the Club over the last few years whilst we’re doing well. I think this has worked.
The way that you have all bought into what is happening here has been borne out in Season Cards sales for the 2022/23 season so far. We’re targeting a 15% increase for next season and sales are really, really encouraging so far. Although the sales periods are different year-on-year, sales are currently double what they were after the same number of days on sale as last season!
Please remember that the Season Card sales deadline is 4pm on Friday 6 May 2022. What happens after that date is genuinely not set in stone right now, but I can guarantee you that you will not get the same value that is on offer right now. There will either be significant price increases, regardless of divisional status, or it could be that they don’t go back on sale at all – it all depends on how well they sell beforehand.
Whatever happens this season, this alignment throughout the Club, combined with sound foundations, will stand us in good stead for future years. However, we are in a fantastic position now, and we will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit for promotion! We’ve given ourselves a very real opportunity to return to the Premier League with our place in the top six now confirmed, and we must all play our part in doing what we can to get over the line.
Please get down and support the players in our remaining games. Tickets for our game at Coventry City have flown out – that’s why we’ve asked for more – and then we’ve got Bristol City at the John Smith’s Stadium to finish the regular season. Your support has definitely had a role in our success so far – the players would attest to that – but they’ll now need you more than ever as we approach crunch time! Tell your friends, get your family down - do whatever you can to make the difference!
All that is left is for me to say thank you once again, and to wish the players and staff all the best for the end of the season.
Up The Town!
Dean Hoyle
