Kyle Hudlin earns new Huddersfield Town contract as Neil Warnock has message to striker

Terriers striker Kyle Hudlin has put pen to paper, used it to form a signature and then removed the pen from the paper on a new long-term contract at the club after making his senior debut earlier this month.

The 6’9” centre-forward – whose height we are obliged to mention under the laws of elegant variation – had been set to go out of contract at the end of the current campaign after signing a two-year deal on his arrival last summer, but he is now tied to Huddersfield Town until at least summer 2026.

Hudlin came to the John Smith’s Stadium from non-league Solihull Moors last year and was swiftly sent out on loan to League Two Wimbledon, where he spent half a season before returning to Town and spending the second half of the campaign in the B team.

His regular goalscoring exploits earned him a place in Neil Warnock’s squad for this summer’s pre-season training camp in the West Country and in the subsequent friendlies back up north, with the manager acknowledging that Hudlin’s form had earned him a place in the squad while Tyreece Simpson was sent out on loan to League One Northampton Town.

Hudlin has been an unused substitute in both of Town’s Championship games this season but came off the bench and scored in the final moments of last week’s Carabao Cup defeat to Middlesbrough.

Sporting director Mark Cartwright said in a club statement: “We’re delighted to have Kyle extend his contract with the club, and he should be really proud of how far his game has developed since joining us last year. Kevin [Nagle, owner], Jake [Edwards, chief exec] and myself are really pleased for him.

“Taking his chance and grabbing each opportunity given to him with both hands, he’s translating a fantastic off-field attitude into matches, and that’s all you can ask for. He now needs to continue that to push into the first team more consistently.”

Warnock added: “Kyle has been working really hard, so we gave him a chance in pre-season down in Cornwall and Devon and he impressed us. All he needs to do is carry on working as hard as he possibly can and taking his chances. He’s a good lad and I’m pleased for him that he’s signed this new deal.”

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Kirklees Council has spent a quarter-of-a-million-pounds on three 12-metre-high planters in Huddersfield town centre. The New Street-based “tree like-structures” will see climbing plants grow up them in a bid to regenerate the area as part of the £250m Huddersfield Blueprint project.

This 10-year masterplan hopes to transform the town centre to make it more vibrant and attractive to visitors. As part of the blueprint plans, the street will become a “garden street” with green areas with seating and artwork designed for socialising.

Granite flower beds have already been completed and will be filled with seasonal foliage from next month. The council commissioned artist Tim Ward to design, fabricate and install the structures. Each has its own theme – contours, waterways and commerce – which relate to the history and heritage of Huddersfield and the surrounding area.

Public opinion on the planters has been divided. Speaking to Yorkshire Live, some people thought the planters looked pleasant, but others believed them to be unnecessary. Since the planters have been installed, the council’s cabinet has put an end to non-essential spending for the local authority due to its financial position. The local authority needs to save £47m this financial year to balance its budget and measures have been put in place to help the local authority avoid issuing a section 114, or effective bankruptcy.

However, the council has defended its blueprint projects as essential for the future economy of the borough. Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “Investment in regeneration projects such as the Huddersfield Blueprint, which the New Street development forms part of, are important to the long-term economic growth of the district.

“The vertical planters, unique pieces of public art, approximately £250,000 as part of the wider public realm improvements on New Street. They are not only striking pieces of art, but also provide a frame for more green planting without taking up floor space. This will mean we have more room for specialist markets and other events to bring more people into town. And more people in town means more people visiting our shops, restaurants, bars and cafes.”

Aside from the plans for New Street, the majority of the Huddersfield Blueprint is focused around the £210m Cultural Heart. This covers the area at the Piazza and will see a new art gallery, museum, library, food hall, public square and urban park. However, this is being delivered a bit at a time using a phased approach. Further “economic constraints” have seen the plans condensed with the art gallery and museum that were originally projected to occupy separate buildings, forecast to share the former library building at Princess Alexandra Walk.

According to the Our Cultural Heart website, the construction of the food hall, library and public square is anticipated to begin next Spring, with these facilities to be open to the public by the Winter of 2025. The urban park, museum and gallery, mixed-use Queen Street development, entertainment venue and car park will be constructed in the years to follow, with the entire project completed by 2030.