Former Wales Men’s National Team manager Rob Page has set his sights on the vacant Barnsley job following the sacking of Darrell Clarke.
The Tykes parted ways with Clarke after a disastrous run of form, which saw them suffer nine defeats in 11 matches and fall out of the League One play-off spots. Club captain Conor Hourihane has taken interim charge until the end of the season, with Barnsley beginning their search for a permanent manager.
Page looking for a return to management
Page, who was relieved of his duties as Wales boss in 2024 after failing to qualify for the Euros, is reportedly keen to return to the dugout. According to Alan Nixon, the former international manager is interested in taking over at Oakwell.
Rob Page Coaching Career
Page began his coaching career at Port Vale in 2011, progressing from the youth setup to first-team coach and later assistant manager. He became caretaker manager in 2014 and was permanently appointed after improving the team’s performance. Page introduced a possession-based style, led Vale to a 12th-place finish in 2016, and later joined Northampton Town. Despite a strong start, he was sacked in January 2017.
Page then coached at Nottingham Forest before managing Wales’ youth teams. In 2019, he became assistant coach for Wales’ senior squad and took over as caretaker manager in 2020 after Ryan Giggs’ arrest. He led Wales to UEFA Nations League promotion and managed the team at Euro 2020, guiding them to the Round of 16.
As interim manager, Page led Wales through 2022 World Cup qualification, securing a historic spot by defeating Ukraine. He was made permanent manager in June 2022 but oversaw a disappointing World Cup campaign, with Wales eliminated in the group stage. Wales were later relegated from the UEFA Nations League and failed to qualify for Euro 2024 after losing a play-off final to Poland.
Following a poor run of results, including a draw with Gibraltar and a heavy defeat to Slovakia, Page was dismissed as Wales manager in June 2024. He later admitted struggling to come to terms with his sacking.
Writer’s view
Page’s interest in the Barnsley job is understandable, but his CV does not scream League One promotion winner. Barnsley need someone with a deep understanding of the division, rather than a manager whose experience is largely at international level. If the club truly wants to push for promotion, they should set their sights on a candidate with a history of success in the Football League rather than taking a gamble on Page.
