Not a bit of it, Huddersfield's assistant stressing he has remained on the go all summer – and had more knees-ups as a player!

McDermott enjoyed around 20 summer breaks as a professional footballer whether it be with Bury, Newcastle, Liverpool or latterly Cork or APOEL Nicosia.

The 58-year-old's services are no longer required on the football field but anyone thinking that has allowed a summer of late nights for the fun-loving Scouser should think again.

Town's number two jetted off to Majorca this summer but says his phone was the only thing red hot in Spain, with his mobile constantly on the go over the comings and goings of players.

Of his summer getaway, McDermott, now ready to embark on another League One promotion quest, and determined for Town to get to get it right this time, said: "It's been good, very good. I enjoyed it.

"But it's not long enough of course – five weeks. It's not a long time, but I'm looking forward to it now, looking forward to getting back.

"We just went to Majorca for a few days and it was a nice break. We enjoyed it but the weather wasn't as nice as here!"

Asked if he could let loose with his playing days long gone, McDermott laughed: "I think it was easier being a player!

"You tend not to think about football as a player, but when you're an assistant you are always thinking about players that you could be getting and about certain players that are going to be leaving.

"Even though you're not at the club, you're still constantly on the phone to certain people and still involved.

"It was easier being a player because when you are footballer you just go and have a few drinks, go to bed, get up and have a few more drinks!

"We (management) are constantly on the phone to people."

Proof of that is in the pudding with Huddersfield having recruited quality additions to the Galpharm in experienced trio Joey Gudjonson, Gary Naysmith and Bristol City defender Jamie McCombe, plus hot Scottish prospect Scott Arfield.

Former England under-20 winger Lee Croft has also been acquired from Derby County on loan.

McDermott hopes the signatures of Gudjonson and Naysmith in particular make the difference after being losing play-off semi-finalists to Millwall last term.

Huddersfield's number two also revealed further new faces will be on the way.

"What was probably our downfall last year was that we just lacked that little bit of experience," he said.

"That was one of the reasons that we possibly didn't go up directly when we maybe should have done and could have done.

"We've got to move forward now and look forward to next season and we've got players here now that have played at the highest level.

"With one or two of the young players we have got here and the quality we have got upfront, you don't want to get carried away but it's exciting and there will be one or two others to come in I imagine.

"It's looking a bit more prosperous, but there's a long way to go yet.
"Let's see what other players come in, see how they get on and see where we are in four weeks' time."

Believe the bookies and in four weeks' time Huddersfield will be ready to embark on a campaign likely to end in promotion, though not going up automatically.

Southampton are the red hot 2-1 favourites, ahead of 7-1 chances Sheffield Wednesday with Town 9-1 for one of the top two places.

But McDermott, known to like a punt through his love of horse-racing, thinks the Saints can be toppled and that Huddersfield are overpriced.

"They are going to be favourites and they are a good team," said
McDermott of Alan Pardew's Saints. "But they are no certainty by any
means.

"Even though they got 10 points knocked off last season and finished just short of a play-off place, that's no guarantee they would have gone up.

"They will be expecting to be up there, but that's the same as us. And it's not as though we are talking about Brazil, we're talking about Southampton.

"They are a good team at this level, and they'll probably do better this season with the players they will probably bring in, but so will we – we'll have some new players, that we are delighted to have here, that have more experience.

"I think 9-1 is a very, very tempting price and I think some of the local bookmakers may see some interest – but it's not about gambling, it's all about achieving.

"With the players that we have brought in and the players about to come in, you'd certainly have to fancy us strongly, but we mustn't get too carried away.

"There's no guarantee with bringing these players in, it's about the results, but I am confident with the players that we have brought in and with the quality they have got and the experience they have got, that that will take us a long way to getting up."

McDermott and Huddersfield went a long way to getting up last year but ultimately missed out through the agony of the play-offs and a semi-final loss to promoted Millwall.

But to Town's assistant the past is the past and the Merseysider is just hoping that added experience this year can see the Terriers improve their fortunes on the road.

"You've got to get over it and there's use moping over it," said McDermott of last year's shortcomings. "It's done now. We had a very good season, we had a great start to the season and then our away form let us down a little bit, certainly earlier on in the season and then we were playing catch-up a little bit.
"We've got to hold our own more certainly away from home this year but with the players we have got now we should be able to go anywhere and get a result.
"Last season was a big, big disappointment for everyone but when you consider the age of the team, and some of the runs they went on, they did fantastically well for us but we just lacked that little bit of experience that you need.
"Some of the players we have brought in will hopefully address that and the manager and the chairman Dean (Hoyle) have worked ever so hard to get these players in.
"And between now and the end August you never know who is going to be coming in and who is going to be going out."
Pressure
So it's five weeks and counting to Town's League One opener at Notts County and whoever lines up on August 7 will know that nothing but promotion will be seen as good enough, given the money spent by Hoyle and his board.
The pressure is certainly on in McDermott and Lee Clark's second full year in charge at the Galpharm, but Huddersfield's seasoned assistant manager never expected it any other way.
"It doesn't matter what football club you're at, there's always pressure," he said.
"Every Football League team, every Premier League team, they are all under pressure because we have all got aspirations of getting promotion or winning something.
"We're the same – no different to anybody else – we think we can go up and we think we've got a great chance.
"Yes, of course, there is going to be pressure to get up, but there is going to be that with Sheffield Wednesday, with Charlton, with Southampton and Plymouth because they have come down as well.
"They'll think they have got a great chance to go up, and rightly so, and it might be even harder next season but, with the players we have, we are going to be there or thereabouts.
"I wouldn't put anyone off backing us."