In this instalment Tom Johnston is released as Town manager

Coming from our feature writer David A Wood

Despite the undoubted success of the FLCup run a final league placing of 14^th was just not good enough. But was the writing on the wall?

The Board had quickly seen a vast improvement on the team's fortunes when Tom Johnston took charge. His dealings in the transfer market were excellent and until the season just ended Town had always been at the top end of the table, indeed promotion was a possibility throughout the pipe-smoking Manager's previous two seasons.

He had got things moving off the field, a thriving Junior Supporters Club was flourishing one of whose number would within a few short years be elected General Secretary of the Huddersfield Town Supporters Club. New souvenirs were on sale enabling the fans to show of their favours. All off this added value to his managerial prowess.

Mr Johnston had certainly made his mark on Leeds Road but would the semi-final place be enough to warrant another bash at getting Town up into Division One.

Many felt the quality shown in the cup run proved the Gaffer was not far off success in the league. Indeed, perhaps the exploits on the road to Wembley had somewhat got in the way of the 'more important' promotion push. Given the squad we now had, the benefit of three full seasons under the man who had joined us from Grimsby Town, the experience and know how gained from the Cup run, surely now was not the time for change but for building on the firm foundations.

The last day of May brought the announcement from the Directors of Huddersfield Town that the contract of Manager Tom Johnston is terminated.

Thus the 3 1/2 year reign of the man responsible for the best Cup run in Town's history since 1938, and still standing today (Autoglass Trophy apart), was over.

Thoughts turned to who would be the next incumbent. Though Mr Johnston's tenure in the hot seat was over for now, as for the future that would be a different matter!

That the Town Board made their new managerial appointment within 24 hours seemed to show the matter had been in hand well before the termination announcement. When the name was released no one was to be brought in.

The new man at the helm was already at Leeds Road; he had been Coach to the previous Manager. Former Manchester United fullback Ian D. Greaves was the new man in charge and he quickly appointed another former Red and England international wing-half Henry Cockburn as his Assistant.

Though the month of June was barely with us, a new season still many weeks away, thoughts were quickly appraising how the new managerial duo would fair. Whatever, the one and only target was top-flight soccer. Does this change mean we are closer to that or further away?

Opinion was divided.

What quickly became apparent was Mr Greaves was his own man, with his own ideas and methods, a strict disciplinarian who knew what he wanted and confident in his own abilities to reach the summit. It may have been his first Managerial appointment but it was not one that filled him with awe, rather the opposite. He wanted the role, the responsibility, the chance to put his beliefs and philosophies into practice. The opportunity to be The Boss, in every way, with all that went with the job.

That Town finished 6^th in the former Old Trafford mans first season showed a marked improvement on 14^th. Though we were 10 points adrift of second placed Crystal Palace only four points separated us from 3^rd placed Charlton.

A creditable enough first campaign? On paper perhaps, but not, I suspect enough for Mr Greaves.

We hope you have enjoyed our "Those Were The Days" articles, and find them an interesting look at some special memories of Town through the years. Memories that will not, and can not be forgotten - and memories only our beloved Town could have created