Chris Powell has been sacked as manager of Huddersfield Town.

Powell was fired this morning by the club after last night’s 2-2 draw away to Reading in the Sky Bet Championship.

The result left Huddersfield languishing in eighteenth place in the table, having won just three games all season.

Alex Dyer, Powell’s assistant, has also left the club, with Mark Lillis, the academy manager, now in temporary charge for the game against Leeds on Saturday.

“We have decided to make this change after very careful deliberation,” Nigel Clibbens, Huddersfield chief executive, said. “It is made with the long term interests of the club in mind. It signals a change of direction by the club and a new approach.

“Chris worked to represent Huddersfield Town to the best of his ability; to develop us, improve us and take us forward. He now leaves us well placed for the future challenges ahead.”

Despite guiding Huddersfield to safety last season, Powell ultimately paid the price for his side’s inability to keep a lead, something highlighted in yesterday’s loss to Reading.

Nahki Wells had put Huddersfield 2-1 up with his fourth goal of the season at the Madejski Stadium in the 26th minute, but Huddersfield then sat back and Ola John finally grabbed an equaliser for the home side six minutes from time.

It was the second time in the game that Huddersfield lost the lead, having taken just 64 seconds to go in front, after Jamie Paterson took advantage of poor Reading defending.

However, Reading, who have not won in four matches, equalised in the fifteenth minute when Oliver Norwood’s speculative 30-yard free kick somehow eluded Jed Steer in the Huddersfield goal.

Wells, who dropped to the substitutes’ bench on Saturday in his team’s 2-1 loss away to Burnley, celebrated his return to the starting line-up by putting the visiting side back in front.

The 25-year-old netted from close range in the 26th minute, taking a pass from Harry Bunn to beat Al Habsi, the Reading goalkeeper, with a rising shot into the roof of the net.

Huddersfield were denied three points when substitute John levelled with his first goal for Reading. The draw leaves Huddersfield just four points above the relegation zone.

“I feel a bit frustrated and disappointed that we couldn’t hold out,” Powell said afterwards. “But I’m sure when I wake up tomorrow I’ll recognise it’s a good point against a very good Reading side.

“We couldn’t hold out, we had a side and a squad that were down to 18 really and had two players making their first league starts who did ever so well.

“Reading had a lot of possession and after having such a very good start, we were pegged back in the second half. Our defensive qualities came out and it’s just a shame we couldn’t hold on for the three points.”

In contrast Steve Clarke, the Reading manager, believed his side had dropped three points.

“We shot ourselves in the foot in the first couple of minutes and made it difficult against what I thought was a good Huddersfield side who were well organised,” he said.

“Having got back into the game at 1-1, we should have then taken control, but we didn’t. We gave them the second goal shortly after and from there it was a difficult night and a struggle just to get back to 2-2.

“It’s a game that last year we would have definitely lost. How important a point that turns out to be, we’ll find out come May.”