Chairman Dean Hoyle has revealed Huddersfield Town will review their football operations setup as they prepare for the departure of Ross Wilson to Premier League outfit Southampton in the summer.

Town's football ops chief will move to the South coast to take up a director of scouting and recruitment role in a huge blow to the John Smith's Stadium side.

Wilson, a trusted ally of both Hoyle and chief executive Nigel Clibbens, will continue with the club during the transitional period but the Town owner has now moved to clarify the club's stance regarding a potential replacement.

“Having experienced how football operations have developed since 2012, it is a chance to reflect and consider what we need for our model and approach going forward," he said.

“We have an established and settled football operations structure and developing academy that is set up well to do a number of things in terms of recruitment and other football activities.

“We now have to make sure we focus on the areas where we can get the best wins for the club given the resources we have, what we have learned in the Championship so far, what works for our specific circumstances and what is needed for future success.

“The club needs to be lean, efficient and effective. We have seen squad numbers fall and off the field staffing is being tightened; this will continue as we cut our cloth and prioritise according to the circumstances we face.

“We are ambitious to continue to move forward up this division in a sustainable way and I believe by being ‘at it’ in every single thing we do, we can show Championship success is not just about the cash you throw at a club.

“We will now use the opportunity to review our football operations with Chris [Powell] and the other staff and seek to make an appointment to build on what we have and make us equipped for further progress in a way that fits with what the club is about and what we need going forward.”