Dean Hoyle has made it clear Huddersfield Town want maximum value from players – measured in minutes on the pitch.

His comments to fans at the PPG Canalside Question & Answer session spelled out the club need to pay fewer players to sit in the stand on a Saturday afternoon or Tuesday night.

The owner-chairman is absolutely right, and that’s why striker James Vaughan won’t be offered a new deal at the end of this season, why Oscar Gobern was shown the door and why no-one from the Academy – at this moment in time – is quite ready to make that permanent leap into the Championship.

Town have to make these tough decisions to keep losses under control while trying to compete in a division whereby Bristol City, newly-promoted and with no parachute payments, can fork out £9m on Brentford striker Andre Gray.

“It’s very tough but I’m not moaning, because we know where we are,” said the boardroom chief, still waiting to hear if Alex Smithies (to QPR) will follow Conor Coady (Wolves) out of the John Smith’s Stadium.

“When players are sold – the time has to be right and the price has to be right for Huddersfield Town – we will always reinvest the money in the squad.

“We brought in Dean Whitehead to play in Conor Coady’s position because he has more experience.

“The reason why we brought in Kyle Dempsey and Jordy Hiwula – and other young (Development Squad) lads – is quite simple.

“At this moment in time our Academy – very expensive it is – is not producing players for the first team.

“People talk about pathways, but ultimately the players coming through are not good enough. They may be in the future, we’ve got to get them out on loan (to gain experience) but there are very few people want to take them on loan so there is huge pressure on the Academy to produce and, as yet they are not producing so we have to buy young players, develop them and sell for our model.”

Hoyle said Vaughan has the opportunity to put himself in the shop window and earn his next deal elsewhere by producing the goods – and goals – for Town this season.

The chairman has no problem with the quality of Vaughan as a player, it’s just that through injuries Town fans have not been able to see enough of the 27-year-old former Everton and Norwich City frontman.

Likewise with Gobern. Hoyle didn’t feel after the amount of time the midfielder had spent sidelines it was worth offering him another deal, when that cash could be used for manager Chris Powell to bolster in other areas.

“I’ve got to give the manager as much freedom to express himself and help him get the players he wants to play entertaining football,” said Hoyle.

“When Chris came through the door he wanted to do that but, at the same time, he’s got to be given time and, as chairman, I will give him that time.

“As long as managers don’t do anything daft, and I’m sure they are giving 100% effort every day and they are committed to the cause, of course I will give the time.

“It’s been proven in football the last thing you want to be doing is changing your manager.

“We had a great end to the season last season. Let’s not get two excited when things are going well and let’s not get too disappointed when things aren’t going so well.

READ: Huddersfield Town chairman Dean Hoyle explains why they have a 'revolving door' policy on transfers and club is not up for sale

“At the moment we are in a bit of a sticky patch, we all know that, but at the same time we all like a challenge – and I’m thriving on the challenge at the moment.”