HUDDERSFIELD have hit out after Neil Hart decided against joining them as chief executive to take the same role with Burnley.

The CEO of Burnley FC in the Community was set to move to the John Smith’s Stadium with his departure from Turf Moor having been announced last week.

But with David Baldwin then declaring his intention to leave the Clarets for the EFL in June of next year, Hart has now decided to stay with Burnley, six days after it was revealed he was joining the Terriers.

“Neil’s decision, and the reversal of his signed commitment to Huddersfield Town, is incredibly disappointing,” said Huddersfield chairman Phil Hodgkinson.

“I’m a great believer in honouring a commitment once it has been made and that certainly is not the case with this situation.

“The club is of the utmost importance, but I feel personally let down too.

“I’ve never had this happen to me in 25 years of working in business. In many ways football is a unique industry, but this is not acceptable to me or to our club.”

Hart said the opportunity with the Clarets was one he “could not refuse”.

“As people may be aware, I was expecting to join Huddersfield Town next year, but this is a role I simply feel I could not refuse once it became available,” he said.

“I feel honoured to be asked to take over from Dave and, along with the staff at the football club, look forward to helping this club go from strength to strength.”

Hart was one of two senior appointments announced by the Clarets on Wednesday with Matt Williams stepping up from his head of football operations role to become the Clarets’ new chief operating officer.