HUDDERSFIELD TOWN want former Fulham midfielder Lee Clark to be their new manager.

The Terriers have turned to the 36-year-old after spending the past five weeks searching for Stan Ternent’s successor.

The Yorkshire Post understands that Clark, providing agreement can be reached with his current club Norwich City, will be assisted by experienced coach Derek Fazackerley at the Galpharm Stadium and that the pair could even be in place before the weekend trip to Southend United.

Town’s chairman elect Dean Hoyle last night refused to comment, insisting the club were yet to make an appointment.

But the Yorkshire Post understands Clark cut a hugely impressive figure in two separate interviews with the Terriers and is seen as the man to lead the club out of League One.

A host of other names have been linked with the vacancy since Ternent was sacked early last month following a disappointing start to Huddersfield’s centenary year.

Ady Boothroyd, Chris Hutchings and Nigel Adkins were among those tipped to be on Hoyle’s radar along with Ian Atkins only for Norwich assistant manager Clark to emerge as the man wanted by Town earlier this month.

It will be the former Fulham midfielder’s first managerial post, although he did take charge of Newcastle’s reserve team and joined Glenn Roeder’s coaching staff in 2006.

He was then lured to Carrow Road by Roeder 13 months ago and the pair helped save the Canaries from relegation to the third tier last season.

At Huddersfield, Clark will be able to draw on a wealth of experience in the form of Fazackerley. The pair first worked together at St James’ Park when the former Blackburn stalwart was a member of Kevin Keegan’s coaching staff in the Nineties.

The 57-year-old has also coached at Blackburn, Bolton Wanderers and Barnsley, while he was part of the England set-up under Keegan. His last role was at Manchester City working with Sven Goran Eriksson.

Academy director Gerry Murphy has been in temporary charge of Town since Ternent’s departure and has managed to oversee an encouraging upturn in results.

After being knocked out of the FA Cup by Port Vale in dramatic fashion, Huddersfield have claimed nine points from four league games under Murphy.

It is the 65-year-old’s third stint as caretaker manager but, as with his spells in charge before Andy Ritchie and Ternent were appointed, he has continually stressed he does not want the job on a permanent basis.

Town have now reached an advanced stage in their discussions with Lee Clark about becoming the Terriers new manager.

According to the Town website, talks between the two are close to completion, while Norwich City have granted the West Yorkshire club permission to talk to Clark.

Chairman Dean Hoyle said: “We approached Norwich City to talk to Lee Clark yesterday (Tuesday) about becoming our new manager and they allowed it.

“An undisclosed compensation package has been agreed between the two clubs and we are now at an advanced stage of negotiations with Lee.”