Kevin Nagle urged to avoid potential Jack Wilshere appointment - It's a "total gamble" | OneFootball

Wilshere has recently been informed that he won't be considered for the vacancy at Norwich City

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

After an extremely underwhelming 2024/25 campaign, Huddersfield Town's search for Michael Duff's permanent successor is continuing into the off-season.

The previous permanent Terriers boss was dismissed on March 8th after a defeat to eventually relegated Bristol Rovers, with interim boss Jon Worthington overseeing a disastrous end to the League One season which saw his side win two and lose eight of his 10 games in charge.

After ending the season in 10th place, 14 points behind Leyton Orient in sixth, pressure is on Kevin Nagle to nail his next appointment and deliver promotion back to the Championship, with St Mirren boss, Stephen Robinson, the latest to be linked with a potential move to the John Smith's Stadium.

However, another name who could appear on the club's radar is former Arsenal midfielder, Jack Wilshere, who was recently informed that he will not be considered for the vacancy at Norwich City, whom he is set to depart after overseeing the Canaries' final two games of the season following Johannes Hoff Thorup's dismissal at Carrow Road.

Huddersfield Town urged to avoid Jack Wilshere decision as Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney comparison made

Despite heaping praise upon the 33-year-old for a successful playing career - largely with Arsenal - FLW's resident Huddersfield fan pundit, Graeme Rayner, believes the man who took four points from two games in the hotseat following a spell as assistant to Hoff Thorup, isn't what Town need at this moment in time.

"I don't know. I genuinely don't know what his attributes would be, and I think that's the reason why he should be avoided," Rayner told FLW.

"He has no track record as a manager or head coach, and I think it's the sort of gamble we can't afford to make from a position of weakness, which is where we're at at the moment, a position of mediocrity.

"I would be highly surprised if we took a punt on someone (like Jack Wilshere)," he added. "Yes, outstanding playing career, very good footballer. But, we know nothing about his ability to manage a squad of players or lead them or mould them.

"It would be a very left-field decision and a total gamble," Rayner stated. "We know in recent years that very, very good footballers don't make very, very good managers.

"Frank Lampard has had a very hit-and-miss (managerial) career. He's having a good time at the moment, but very hit-and-miss. Wayne Rooney, more misses than hits, Steven Gerrard the same," he continued.

"Very, very good creative players like that don't always manage to make good managers, and part of that will be because, if he comes to Huddersfield in League One, he'll be managing and coaching players who don't even have half the ability he had as a player. It's a real challenge for them.

Our fan pundit concluded: "I would say good luck to him, but pass."

Jack Wilshere appointment would be a gamble despite Norwich City praise

Prior to Norwich's sporting director, Ben Knapper, revealing why Wilshere wouldn't be in the running for the permanent gig in Norfolk, the former England midfielder was the subject of immense praise from Canaries full-back Jack Stacey, who said: "Personally, and I think I can speak for all of the changing room, I think we'd be delighted for Jack to get it.

"You always want a manager that shows belief in you. The way he's come in and instilled confidence into individual players, it makes you want to do well for him and feel you can perform to your best."

Wilshere would no doubt bring fresh ideas to Huddersfield despite lacking experience as a number one and having a relatively short coaching career thus far, whilst someone like Chris Davies at Birmingham City, finally stepped into the main role in the dugout after years of experience as an assistant to the likes of Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou.

The Stevenage-born man enjoyed a relatively successful stint in charge of Arsenal's Under-18's side too. But, youth football is a completely different kettle of fish compared to being in charge of one of the third-tier's big hitters, as the Terriers would be under immediate pressure to mount a sustained promotion bid.