Just who is Steve Thompson?

Huddersfield Town announced on Friday that the former Blackpool assistant manager would be joining the coaching staff as Mark Robins' right-hand man as well as four other additions to the backroom setup.

Alongside Thompson in Robins' new-look entourage is Allan Stewart, who moves from his position as head of strength and conditioning at Hull City to take up a role as the head of sport science while three of Town's current coaches - Nick Colgan, Dan Hughes and Stuart Heaviside - have all earned promotions within the ranks.

But it is Thompson's name which will have pricked up the ears of most Town fans.

He can boast a football background, having forged a career which spanned six professional clubs in some 20 years between 1982 and 2002.

He initially came through the youth system at Bolton Wanderers and quickly developed a reputation as a goalscoring midfielder before enjoying productive spells at Leicester City and Rotherham United, making over 100 appearances for both.

His coaching career has followed a similar path, having worked his way to the top before being axed as part of Paul Ince's management team in January of this year - paving the way for Robins to draft him in.

Starting out at the Centre of Excellence at Blackpool, Thompson quickly became the head of the youth department in 2005. Within a year he had been promoted to first-team coach, acting as deputy for former Seasiders and Town boss Simon Grayson.

His impact was clear on the club as Blackpool gained promotion to the Championship in 2006/2007 and his progress was duly rewarded in 2008 when he inked a new two-year contract.

Grayson's departure later that year led to Thompson working in tandem with caretaker boss Tony Parkes and, while it was Parkes who made the majority of decisions, there was a sense that he was becoming an increasingly vocal figure around the club.

With further managerial upheaval in the shape of Ian Holloway and Michael Appleton's Bloomfield Road tenures, Thompson ended up taking charge in a caretaker capacity.

His win percentage stood at 40% from 10 games across two respective spells as the chief in the dugout and this experience was only likely to stand him in good stead for the future.

When managers such as Grayson and Holloway were present, Thompson was unable to get as hands on with the players as he would when he was leading the pack himself and his first caretaker spell particularly helped lay the foundations for Blackpool's remarkable rise to the Premier League, albeit a short-lived one.

He has become something of a fans' favourite at Bloomfield Road and that fact should not be lost on the Town faithful, because he was held in the highest regard by the people that matter most. Some even touted him as a candidate for the previously vacant managerial position.

He was Holloway's right-hand man when the club reached the promise land of the Premier League and, in spite of their relegation, they were applauded for their attractive brand of football, something Thompson had a key role in administering.

Thompson can feel secure in the fact he was a key component in helping the club achieve uncharted success, and with Robins and Town opting for a fresh approach next season, he will hope to replicate some of his previous highs at the John Smith's Stadium.

His CV reads impressively and if Robins and his carefully-selected assemblage of coaches can strike up a rapport quickly, exciting times lie ahead.

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