"I was extremely disappointed" - Michael Duff action urged at Barnsley FC after Darrell Clarke exit | OneFootball

FLW's Barnsley fan pundit believes the club should re-appoint their former boss.

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 sacked head coach Darrell Clarke following back-to-back defeats against Charlton Athletic and Blackpool.

The Tykes find themselves 10th in the League One table and eight points adrift of the play-off places as things stand, which has resulted in the 47-year-old losing his job.

Conor Hourihane has been handed the responsibility of taking charge until the end of the season.

Barnsley's Sporting Director, Mladen Sormaz, spoke about the process of finding a new head coach via the official club website.

"Whilst a list of replacements has been identified, we will take some time to ensure the next appointment is the right one," he said.

"With a focus on playing identity, returning to high pressing and attacking football."

Barnsley urged to re-appoint Michael Duff

We asked our Barnsley fan pundit, Andy Symcox, who would be his choice to replace Clarke, and whether Paul Warne is an option that he feels should be considered.

"My immediate view on who should become Barnsley's new head coach would definitely be Michael Duff," Andy said.

"He left us for more money, and I was extremely disappointed that he did so. He had pulled us up by our bootstraps after relegation, turned the squad around, and the team's fortunes around, and got us into the play-off final during his season with us.

"He has subsequently said that he believes he made a mistake to leave when he did, and I believe he is a decent person as well as an excellent head coach.

"He would be my personal choice for it, however there are others around, and the ex-Rotherham and Derby head coach, Paul Warne, would be well received, I believe, at Oakwell.

"I heard a lot about him on the radio when he managed Rotherham and always found him to be an intelligent and thoughtful coach.

"I know Rotherham fans who thought, and still think, the world of him, so he would be a decent alternative to replace Darrell Clarke."

Barnsley must get the next appointment right

Since Michael Duff left the club to join Swansea City in the summer of 2023, Barnsley have now appointed two head coaches who have failed to last a year in the job.

Neill Collins and Clarke both lasted less than 10 months in the role before being relieved of their duties, so it is important that the club identifies the right person to mount a successful promotion this time around.

It is up for debate whether Duff and Warne are the kind of managers who will deliver the "high pressing and attacking football" that Sormaz is supposedly looking for, but their track records suggest that they would both be good choices for a club that is looking to win promotion to the Championship.

Duff showed during his previous spell at Oakwell that he was capable of taking Barnsley back into the second tier, as on another day he would have done just that in the 2023 League One play-off final.

Warne has proven on a number of occasions that he has what it takes to take a club into the Championship, having done so with both Rotherham United and Derby County.

It will be interesting to see who Barnsley appoint as the permanent replacement for Clarke, but it would certainly make sense for Duff and Warne to at least be considered as candidates for the role.