MARK LILLIS does not consider his name to be in the pot for the Town
manager's job full-time.

The Academy boss - whose juniors go to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday
night in the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup - has led Town to an FA
Cup draw against Leicester and three vital Championship points against
Crystal Palace in his two matches as caretaker manager of the senior
side, but insists he is looking no further than tomorrow's match at
Derby County.

"I wouldn't say my name is in the pot to get the job full-time," said Lillis.

"I'm under no pressure from the chairman. When I see him he just tells
me to keep getting on with things. He is liking what he is seeing and
so am I, but when I came here in January 2012 it was as Academy
Manager with the aim of setting up a foundation for the successful
future of the club.

"We've got Under 14s and Under 15s here who will hopefully be in our
first team in three or four years and I'm focusing on that.

"I am planning for the Derby game then planning through next week, and
I'll speak to the chairman early in the piece to see about the Cardiff
game. That's as far as it goes."

Lillis says he has embraced the dual role and will continue to do it
to the best of his ability until Dean Hoyle says otherwise.

Would he consider changing his mind and going for the top job permanently?

"To see the fans clapping and cheering at the end of the Palace game
was fantastic," said Lillis.

"I went to them to thank them because they deserved it and to see that
response, as an ex-player and ex-captain of this club, was
unbelievable - but I am still the Academy Manager and we have a very
important game on Tuesday.

"Those lads don't want to hear I'm jumping ship. That's not me in any
case, and those young boys deserve better.

"I'm here to try and produce that 'one club' mentality throughout and
a foundation, along with all the other coaches. Hopefully we will get
Category 2 status in the Academy which is a massive thing and, over
the next few years, we can bring through the lads who the supporters
haven't even seen yet.

We need to instill a belief in those boys that there is a pathway at
this club to the first team and, I can tell you, these lads will pull
on the shirt and wear it with pride."

Lillis believes Town can succeed in repelling the advances of
Premiership clubs for the best young players in this area by offering
a solid route through to the first team - and the new manager must be
someone who is fully behind that process.

"We want everyone through the Academy and Development to be linked
completely, we want to be playing the same style of football and
understanding the same mentality about taking the club forward - and
whoever the new manager is, he has to understand that," added Lillis.

"We are one club, and the new manager and his assistant have got to
buy into the Huddersfield Town way. Whoever comes in, this is a great
opportunity for him because everything is set up and we've got some
fantastic players. The key of course is to make sure we remain a
Championship club and build from there."