Huddersfield Town chairman Dean Hoyle is recovering after a lengthy battle with pancreatitis, the Premier League club have confirmed.
Hoyle, who became chairman of his boyhood club in 2009, has spent 15 weeks in hospital suffering from the disease having originally being diagnosed with gallstones in October.
The 51-year-old said it is his intention to attend Huddersfield’s next Premier League match, which pits the Premier League’s bottom club against Arsenal on Saturday.
A club statement confirmed Hoyle’s illness, with the former Card Factory owner saying: “The last three months have been an absolute rollercoaster, full of ups and downs. However, as I keep reminding myself, rollercoasters only move forward! I feel like, all being well, I’m now in the last lap of my recovery.
“We’ve tried to keep my condition out of the spotlight, but understandably it has become increasingly difficult to do so and I wanted to quash the rumours about my long-term health once and for all.
“I’m not out of the woods just yet, but I would like to take this opportunity to thank the medical teams at St James’s University Hospital in Leeds and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary for the outstanding care I have received.
“I’d also like to thank our wonderful supporters for the many cards and messages I’ve received; it’s been totally overwhelming.
“I plan to attend Saturday’s game against Arsenal, all being well. I won’t be able to take my usual seat in the Directors’ Box as I’ll need to stay indoors, but I’m still really looking forward to it.
“I must take this opportunity to thank Chief Executive Julian Winter. I was still fully involved in key decisions like the appointment of Jan Siewert as Head Coach, but Julian has really taken hold of the reins on a day-to-day basis in my absence. He deserves huge credit for that during a difficult period for the Club.
“I cannot wait to be back actively involved day-to-day. I’m desperate to get back to the Club, but I must be realistic; this may take a few months. For the first time in a decade, I need to put myself first as I get back to full health.
“In the meantime, I have complete faith and confidence in the excellent staff we have at Huddersfield Town, from the Board of Directors to everyone else. There is a lot of work ahead of us, but we’ll take on the challenge together, as always.”
Huddersfield have risen from League One to the Premier League under Hoyle’s ownership, though they look set to drop back down to the Championship this season with just 11 points won from 25 matches.