MARK LILLIS and Steve Eyre are ready to return to the first-team fray as Huddersfield Town seek an against-the-odds FA Cup fourth-round win over Leicester at the John Smith’s Stadium tomorrow.

The pair, academy chief and development coach respectively, are in caretaker charge as owner-chairman Dean Hoyle begins the search for a new manager after parting company with Simon Grayson.

Click here for a full list of stories on Simon Grayson's departure including chairman's statement, gallery of his time in charge, new manager odds and more.

The former Blackpool and Leeds boss, who is without a win in 12 league games, was told of Hoyle’s decision after taking training yesterday. His assistants Ian Miller and Glynn Snodin are also set to leave.

Town, who are 18th in the Championship and fearful of a relegation battle, were quick to gag players and staff in the wake of the dramatic developments, with Lillis due to address the press after taking training with Eyre this morning.

The experienced 52-year- old former Town player and youth coach had a spell as caretaker following the departure of Lee Clark as manager last February, but didn’t actually take a game.

Lillis, who also played for Manchester City, Derby, Aston Villa, Scunthorpe and Stockport, has managed Halifax and coached at Macclesfield, Derby, Stockport and Morecambe and for Northern Ireland.

His third spell at Town started when he was made academy manager 13 months ago.

Eyre, 40, joined Town in April after more than 20 years on the coaching staff at Manchester City and a short stint as manager of Rochdale.

Was Dean Hoyle right to sack dispense with Simon Grayson? Who would you like as next Huddersfield Town manager? Click here to let us know

Against Leicester, who are second in the table and thumped Town 6-1 on New Year’s Day, Lillis and Eyre will bid for a bounce-back win after last Saturday’s 4-0 loss at Watford.

On-loan Leicester duo Jermaine Beckford and Neil Danns can’t play against their parent club, while there are injury doubts over defender Joel Lynch and midfielders Adam Clayton, Chris Atkinson Keith Southern.