Neil Warnock will step down as Huddersfield Town manager after their match against Stoke City on Wednesday night – but insists he will not retire.
The Terriers, who sit 17th in the Championship table, announced the 74-year-old would leave his post “after extensive discussions”.
Warnock came out of retirement in February to return to Huddersfield 30 years after beginning his first spell at the Yorkshire club.
After being seven points from safety in March, Warnock guided the team to survival and then agreed to a one-year contract extension in June.
Huddersfield chief executive Jake Edwards said the club were “now ready to make a longer-term appointment” with the departure of Warnock and his assistant Ronnie Jepson this week.
Neil Warnock will take charge of his final match as Huddersfield Town manager this Wednesday against Stoke City as he leaves the post.
Warnock celebrates in front of Huddersfield fans after their recent win at West Brom
It remains to be seen whether Warnock is tempted to take another job after retiring from management after 42 years in the dugout in April 2022.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday afternoon, Warnock insisted he would not officially retire.
He said: “We actually did what we set out to do.
“As Jake said, Kevin (Nagle, chairman) has a three-year plan to reach the Premier League.
“When Dean (Hoyle) brought me back, he pleaded for days and days and changed his mind and I said I would come back and help while I was wanted.”
“One time they told me they wanted to bring someone over…yeah I thought it would be about Christmas, but one time they told me I think they should move on thing quickly.
“If we don’t want you, you want to go right away. I don’t mean what it sounds like – we always said we would be honest with each other and that’s what we did, and Ronnie and I wish them all the best.
“I told the guys there was no reason why we couldn’t head to the play-offs now.
Huddersfield made it back to back wins as they beat Rotherham on Saturday
“My health is good, I have never felt so good! If anything, I still have the buzz. I’m sure in February people will ask me that again.
“I always told Kevin, it’s his club and that I will go there whenever he wants me to go. I think it was the right thing for me to come back, I don’t think it would have helped anyone to come in pre-season, but we’ve made a lot of progress.
“I didn’t fall out with anyone. Jake came to me and said they wanted to move on and management was the next step. I think management is really the biggest decision they have to make.
Warnock added: “I can’t tell you who the new manager is because they haven’t told me, so I guess it’s someone I don’t like!”
Edwards said the new manager would be confirmed by the end of the week.
He added at the press conference: “This was always a short-term commitment and we have been very open and honest in our dialogue.
“We have progressed in a number of areas and brought that stability to a certain level, and that’s thanks to Neil.
Warnock receives a standing ovation after Huddersfield beat Sheffield United in May to secure their Championship status
“We wanted to make the decision from a position of strength, which is unusual. Neil is right, this is the most important decision we will make, and we didn’t want to make it from a position of weakness, when we often make the wrong decision.
“When the right candidate is available you have to make the decision and we had some good adult discussions.
“Neil put his heart and soul into it and it’s a winner, but as a club it’s the decision we had to make.
“Neil prepared us really well. It gives the successor a solid foundation on which to build.
Huddersfield began their Championship campaign by losing three of their first four matches and exiting the Carabao Cup against Middlesbrough.
But back-to-back wins over West Bromwich Albion and Rotherham United have made things look different at the John Smith Stadium.
