Who is Andy Holdsworth? Spotlight on the former Huddersfield Town man set to take charge of Sheffield Wednesday in their FA Cup clash at Exeter City

It might not have been how he dreamt it.
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But Andy Holdsworth is the manager in charge of an FA Cup tie for Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

The former Huddersfield Town man will become the fourth man to stand in the Owls’ first team dugout this season. But who is he? Let’s take a look..

Quick recap.. what’s gone on?

Andy Holdsworth will take charge of SHeffield Wednesday's FA Cup tie at Exeter.Andy Holdsworth will take charge of SHeffield Wednesday's FA Cup tie at Exeter.
Andy Holdsworth will take charge of SHeffield Wednesday's FA Cup tie at Exeter.
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Holdsworth will take charge of the sides after the positive coronavirus tests of interim coaching team members including Neil Thompson, Lee Bullen and Steve Haslam were confirmed.

The Owls travel to League Two Exeter City with what is expected to be a patched-up squad after what the club have described as a ‘significant number’ of personnel were ruled out due to the outbreak.

FA rules maintain that if a club is able to name 14 players, including available youth players, they should fulfil the fixture.

So who is Andy Holdsworth?

Now aged 36, Holdsworth joined Wednesday in 2018 as Professional Development Phase Manager as the club shook up its youth ranks.

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Before heading to Hillsborough, he worked previously for six years as a coach at Barnsley and earned a degree in Sport and Exercise Science, a UEFA A Licence Coach and an FA Advanced Youth Award.

A highly-rated coach that is liked and respected throughout the club, Holdsworth has taken the club’s under-18s and has enjoyed success in rearing the likes of Alex Hunt and Liam Shaw alongside Thompson, Bullen and co.

Could he play?

Oh aye. Holdsworth started out at Huddersfield Town and is a former Terriers player of the year, an award he won for his performances in the 2007/08 season.

A defender-midfielder utility man, he trialled at Bradford City before moving onto Oldham, Morecambe and Alfreton before sliding into non-league football to balance his coaching aspirations. There, he captained Guiseley to a historic promotion to the National League.

What about the rest of them?

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Darryl Pugh, Nicky Weaver and Tony Strudwick will take to the dugout alongside Holdsworth. Weaver and Strudwick were both present for Wednesday’s win over Derby at the weekend, meaning not everyone who was at the ground will automatically be rendered unavailable.

It is as of yet unknown which players have tested positive.

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