Huddersfield Town

 

The 43 year-old joins the Club from Coventry City and will take charge of the team for Sunday’s FA Cup Fifth Round game at home to Wigan Athletic live on ITV1.

 

Huddersfield Town Chairman Dean Hoyle today commented on Mark’s appointment:

 

“We’ve been through a lengthy and detailed process in appointing Mark as the Club’s new manager and we are delighted.

 

“As I said we would, we have taken our time in making this appointment because it is such an important one, both for our short and long term ambitions. Obviously retention our Championship status is vital, but we also needed a manager who buys into the Club’s football philosophy and structure. We believe Mark is that man.

 

“Mark has the knowledge, skills and attributes that the Board of Directors set out for our new manager and it is clear that he shares our vision, philosophy and values. 

 

“He has good knowledge of the division from his previous spell with Barnsley. 

 

“He has also shown an ability to develop young players. Indeed, his work with the FA on the Elite Player Performance Plan and his commitment to development was a big factor in his appointment. 

 

“Mark has shown his skill in getting the most from the resources at his disposal, none more so than his recent achievements at Coventry; within five months he has pulled that side away from the League 1 relegation zone and given them a genuine chance of being involved in the promotion mix.

 

“Crucially for me, during our discussions Mark has shown a real work ethic and drive to succeed. Those qualities are a prerequisite to have any chance of success. 

 

“We’re all looking forward to Mark working alongside the existing football technical staff and off the field staff at the Club. We know Mark is excited by this challenge.

“I would like to record the Club’s thanks for the professional way Coventry City dealt with this during what has been a difficult time while negotiations took place.”

 

Lancashire-born Robins won many accolades as a striker during his 20 year playing career including a European Cup Winners’ Cup, a UEFA Super Cup, an FA Cup, a League Cup and the Charity Shield. Starting at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, he made 71 appearances for the Red Devils before leaving for Norwich City in 1992 in search of regular first team football. During his time at Old Trafford he also earned six England Under-21 caps.

 

He subsequently played regularly for the Canaries and then Leicester City in the Premier League before loan spells abroad with Danish side FC Copenhagen, Spanish team CD Ourense and Greek outfit Panionios. 

 

Mark returned to England and enjoyed spells at Manchester City, Walsall, Rotherham United, Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday and Burton Albion before hanging up his boots in 2005. 

 

Having previously served as Assistant Manager to Alan Knill at Rotherham, Mark’s managerial career began as Caretaker at Millmoor in March 2007. He moved the Millers off the foot of the League 1 table and to survival in his first few months before going into establish Rotherham as a promotion contender over the next two seasons – despite a 17 point deduction in one campaign.

 

Robins took over at Championship Barnsley in 2009 and repeated his feats at Rotherham, leading the Tykes out of relegation danger in his first season and helping to consolidate their status in the second tier the following season. 

 

He left Oakwell at the end of the 2010/11 season and worked as a consultant for the Premier League during the creation of the Elite Player Performance Plan – the new structure for youth and Under-21 football in England – before being appointed Coventry City manager in September 2012.

 

Robins’ Sky Blues have won an impressive 52% of their games during his five month tenure, which has propelled Coventry up to eighth in the table. 

Mark will hold his first press conference as Huddersfield Town Manager later today.