Hourihane put in charge as Barnsley sack boss Clarke

Conor Hourihane retired from playing in December to become Barnsley assistant

League One Barnsley have sacked head coach Darrell Clarke after nine months in charge.

The Reds have lost seven of their past 11 matches to drop out of play-off contention and down to 10th place.

Assistant coach and former Barnsley captain Conor Hourihane, 34, has been placed in interim charge for final 10 games, and will be assisted by coaches Jon Stead, Martin Devaney and Tom Harban.

"Darrell has worked extremely hard to try and get the team competitive and pushing for promotion, unfortunately, we find ourselves eight points away from the play-offs and feel that a change is needed," chairman Neerav Parekh told the club website.

Clarke was appointed in May last year as Neill Collins' replacement.

The Scot had been sacked with one game of the 2023-24 regular season to play and although Devaney helped them secure a top six berth they lost to Bolton in the play-offs.

Former Bristol Rovers, Walsall, Port Vale and Cheltenham boss Clarke made a good start at Oakwell and four successive wins over Christmas and New Year left them in fifth place.

However, they then lost five of their next six and although they were able to put together a run of three straight wins at the end of February and start of this month Saturday's 3-0 reverse at home to Blackpool proved to be his final match.

Sporting director Mladen Sormaz added: "Whilst a list of replacements has been identified, we will take some time to ensure the next appointment is the right one with a focus on playing identity, returning to high pressing and attacking football.

"We believe that Conor can help to create enough bounce to keep us fighting for the top six until the end of the season.

"We will also be working in parallel to have a new head coach in place over the summer."

Barnsley are the 13th League One club to change manager since the season started in August.

Can Hourihane repeat playing heroics?

Conor Hourihane (right) skippered Barnsley to Wembley wins in the EFL Trophy and League One play-off final in 2016

Hourihane returned to Barnsley on a player-coach deal last summer.

He had skippered them to EFL Trophy success and promotion from League One during his first spell with the club before leaving for then Championship side Aston Villa in January 2017.

The Republic of Ireland international won promotion to the Premier League with Villa and also captained Derby as they went back up to the Championship last season.

He retired from playing in December to become Clarke's assistant after not featuring for the side since 24 August and now takes on his first lead coaching role, albeit on an interim basis.

"My intention was to play, but a combination of not feeling I could perform to the standard I expected and the amazing coaching opportunity that Barnsley have provided has meant I have come to this decision," he said at the time.

His first game in charge will be Saturday's trip to out-of-form Mansfield Town.

If Barnsley are to mount a late challenge to reach the play-offs for the third successive season, they will need to improve a home record which has seen them win just five out of 18 games so far - only half the number of victories they have achieved away from Oakwell.

'More instability at Barnsley' - analysis

by BBC Radio Sheffield sport reporter Adam Oxley

So Barnsley are searching for a new head coach, again.

Darrell Clarke is the ninth permanent boss to have been and gone at Oakwell in the last seven years, since Paul Heckingbottom's departure in February 2018.

Ultimately, with the club's stated minimum aim of being a Championship club, it's not the biggest surprise that Clarke has been sacked with Barnsley sitting 10th in League One.

The Reds' away record has been excellent, but they've struggled at home, themes that have carried across from Neill Collins' tenure last season.

Barnsley supporters have become increasingly disgruntled throughout this campaign, with frustrations aired widely from the club's board and sporting director Sormaz to Clarke, his staff and the club's players.

Recruitment is a key issue for Barnsley fans, but not the only one, with important players departing and not being adequately replaced and actions not being perceived to meet the words and aims from the club's hierarchy.

Hourihane is now charged with providing a bounce to keep fading play-off hopes alive, while the club works on a permanent replacement for Clarke in the summer.