NEIL Harris said the Cowley brothers are “really good guys” and hopes they spark a Huddersfield revival – but only after this weekend.
Terriers manager and assistant manager Danny and Nicky Cowley qualified as PE teachers at Greenwich University in south London and taught Harris’ kids at FitzWimarc School in Rayleigh, Essex.
They combined their academic roles with their early careers in football management, as they took Concord Rangers from the Essex Senior Football League – the ninth tier of English football – to the National League South.
After a season with Braintree, whom they guided to their highest-ever league finish of third in the National League before they lost to Grimsby in the play-off final, they took over at Lincoln City in 2016.
The Cowleys led Lincoln from the National League to League One. In their first season the Imps became the first non-league side in over 100 years to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Huddersfield paid compensation for the pair after sacking Jan Siewert. Their first two games ended in defeat.
The Terriers have won once in 33 league games, losing 28, and are searching for a first victory this season after eight games.
“The Cowleys I know very well, they taught my children. We speak regularly, I’m really pleased for them,” Harris said.
“They did an unbelievable job at Concord Rangers and then moved to Braintree and had success there on a small budget in a tough Conference.
“They dragged a sleeping giant at that level in Lincoln back to where they belonged. They’ve done really well.
“First and foremost they’re really good guys. And they’re really hungry for success.
“They bring a teaching element from the classroom and PE into a football club.
“I’m pleased for them with the opportunity they’ve got. It’s a tough opportunity, but what they’ll find is at a very tough level they’ve got some exceptional footballers.
“I hope they don’t find a way to get the best out of them this weekend.”
Huddersfield are bottom of the Championship table, and are battling to avoid successive relegations.
Harris added: “The big surprises are them and Stoke at the bottom. Charlton had a fantastic start and QPR are a surprise, possibly. Everyone else is pretty much where you’d expect them to be after eight games. You might look at Huddersfield and Stoke, and QPR and Charlton, and swap those positions.
“Huddersfield spent a lot of money in the last couple of years but there’s no given right to be successful just because you’ve got money.”
Image: Millwall FC