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Sky Bet Championship: Patrick Kluivert denies interest in Huddersfield job, Coventry's Steven Pressley the favourite

Image: Patrick Kluivert (r): Part of Louis van Gaal's coaching team at World Cup

Former Netherlands and Barcelona star Patrick Kluivert has denied he wants to become the new manager of Championship side Huddersfield Town.

The 38-year-old, part of the Dutch coaching team under Louis van Gaal at the World Cup, was reported to be keen on succeeding Mark Robins, who was sacked after a 4-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth on the opening day of the season. 

But on the same day Huddersfield began interviewing candidates for the job, Kluivert confimed on Twitter: "All the rumours are suggestions based on nothing."

Sky Bet has made Coventry City boss Steven Pressley the favourite to take over at the John Smith's Stadium.

Image: Steven Pressley: Favourite for the job

Mark Lillis, academy manager of the Yorkshire club since 2011, has been in temporary charge but Sky sources understand he is not in the running to take the job on a permanent basis.

Huddersfield are holding interviews for the post on Monday and are hoping to make an announcement ahead of their trip to Reading in the Sky Bet Championship on Tuesday night.

And Lillis told Sky Sports he is happy to remain the academy boss when a new manager comes in.

"You get the buzz and adrenaline of being in the dugout – I've been in there as an assistant manager many years," he said.

As far as I'm concerned, I’m the manager of this football club at the moment and I’ll do it the best I can.
Mark Lillis

"Against Chesterfield, people were singing 'you're getting sacked in morning', so there's been a bit of fun there.

"But I've got to focus on my academy.

"I've said to the players the respect and trust of players and managers should still work both ways. As far as I'm concerned, I’m the manager of this football club at the moment and I’ll do it the best I can

"The players have got to dig in to that because if they do, a new manager is going to ask me about the players and their characters, and whether we've got lads who spit their dummies out or put a shift in.

"These lads have put a shift in over the last few days."

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