Barnsley urged to reappoint ex-Huddersfield Town manager - Tykes supporters will be split | OneFootball

FLW's Barnsley fan pundit has identified the manager they would like to see make a return to the Oakwell dugout for next season.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Barnsley have endured a disappointing season in League One, with interim head coach Conor Hourihane's side playing for little more than a top half finish in the remaining handful of games.

The Tykes appointed Darrell Clarke in May last year, having lost out in the play-off semi-finals to Bolton Wanderers last season, in a campaign that saw the club record a sixth-placed finish in the third tier.

Under Clarke, however, Barnsley have taken a backwards step on the pitch this season, and the 47-year-old was relieved of his duties on 12 March, with his side having lost seven of their previous 11 games at the time.

However, heading into this weekend's meeting with Bolton, interim boss Hourihane is yet to record his first win in temporary charge of the Tykes.

As such, they are now effectively eliminated from play-off contention, with sixth-placed Reading on 68 points, and Barnsley only being able to finish on a maximum of 69 points should they win all of their last five games.

"I don't want to see boring football" - Barnsley urged to target tactically flexible manager for next appointment

We asked our Barnsley fan pundit, Andy Symcox: 'It's been a frustrating season for Barnsley, with the appointment of Darrell Clarke not working out. What type of manager do you want to see the club target next? Direct? Possession-oriented? Is there a leading candidate that you would love to see come in and get the club moving in the right direction?'

Symcox said: "The type of manager/head coach that I would like to see at Oakwell for the coming season is one who can vary our style and tactics according to a given situation, or a change in situation.

"I personally enjoy pressing football, attacking down the flanks and in the middle, in the same way that Daniel Stendel did but without the frailties that was left behind in defence.

"I quite liked the direct style we had under Valerien Ismael, but again, there was too much 'cob it into the corner and chase it'. That was poor to watch at times.

"I like a degree of possession-based football, but that has to be with a purpose. Not passing across the back, and then back again, and then back again. There has to be a purpose going forward.

"The style of football that we played under Neill Collins was more possession-based, but boring. I don't want to see boring football, as it's a sport and an entertainment business."

"Not everyone will agree" - Michael Duff identified as ideal candidate for Barnsley job

Much of the frustration from Barnsley supporters this season comes from the knowledge that they have a talented squad of players, with the likes of Davis Keillor-Dunn, Adam Phillips, Corey O'Keeffe and Jon Russell all having excellent individual campaigns.

Therefore, Barnsley's hierarchy will surely recognise that they must get their next managerial appointment right, as there is obvious potential for a quality coach to come in and extract a lot more out of this crop of players than is currently being achieved.

So, who does Symcox wish to see in the Oakwell dugout next season?

"The person I think that, in my view, would be most likely to be able to change our style with attacking, pass and move football, would be the return of Michael Duff.

"Not everyone will agree with that, due to the circumstances in which Michael left. But for me, he changed a team and a squad, in fact, the whole club, from being down on its knees after relegation from the Championship, into genuine contenders for promotion the following season.

"That was a monumental task. More of the same would be really useful in the coming season."

Duff took over as Barnsley boss in June 2022 following the club's relegation to League One, and guided the club to a fourth-placed finish in the third tier and successfully took his side all the way to the play-off final, before losing to Sheffield Wednesday.

Despite being offered a new and improved deal at Oakwell after that impressive debut campaign in charge, he turned down that offer and instead took over Championship side Swansea City.

Understandably, that decision didn't go down well with too many Tykes supporters, and there is perhaps still a slight bitter taste in the mouths of some, hence why his return would be controversial among Barnsley fans.