Barnsley Make Contact With Premier Managerial Candidate

Following Neill Collins’ sacking just prior to the play-offs, there were some serious questions to answer about the future direction of Barnsley Football Club.

They’d only just scrape into the post-season and were incredibly fortunate that both Lincoln City and Blackpool failed to win on the final day of the season. Their sixth place finish would mean that they’d face Bolton Wanderers over two legs in the play-off semi-final and were unsurprisingly big underdogs.

Although they would lose out over two legs to the Trotters, plenty of positives can be taken from their performance. Despite looking out of it in the first leg, losing 3-1 at Oakwell, the Tykes still had a glimmer of hope given that their away form was far better than than of their home.

That better form on the road would come to life and they’d push Bolton very hard in the second leg and although it wouldn’t quite be enough, would win 3-2 at the Toughsheet Community stadium. It’s obviously not the overall result that they wanted but it at least gave fans more hope for the off-season and for something to build upon.

They’re still in search for a successor to Collins and interim boss Martin Devaney who did a pretty good job given the circumstances has ruled himself out of taking the permanent opportunity. That’s raised plenty of questions about what sort of direction they’ll go in when hiring their next manager, but it seems as if the club have now found their man.

Journalist John Percy has revealed on Twitter (X) that the club are in talks with current Cheltenham Town boss Darell Clarke, and a move could be imminent.

Earlier in the day it was reported by Jon Palmer on Twitter (X) that Clarke was set to leave Cheltenham this summer and it would come as no surprise that the two reports are linked.

Although Clarke couldn’t quite keep the Robins afloat in the third tier, he very nearly pulled off a miraculous escape. Without a win and having not scored in any of their first 11 league matches, his side would end up finishing just two points from safety.

He’s a man who should rightly be managing in the third tier and it looks as if he could be making a quicker return to League One than some may have thought.

Writer’s View

This would be a great appointment by Barnsley and Clarke has proven his credentials as a manager in testing circumstances. He could well have been many pundits’ manager of the season had he led his side to safety but they’d ultimately just miss out.

It’s set to be a very strong League One renewal next term and if the Tykes want to give themself the best chance of promotion, then they should pursue Clarke. The appointment would be a massive step in the right direction for the club and they’ll be expected to be in the fight at the top once again.

As for Cheltenham, its a rather large loss and their chances of an immediate return to the third tier will take quite the knock if Clarke was to leave.

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