Paul Heckingbottom insists he has never looked for another club, and has put 'barriers in place' to warn off potential rival employers – but says he would leave Oakwell if the right opportunity came up.

The Reds' head coach, 40, has forged an excellent reputation in the game by taking his hometown club to promotion within months of his first managerial role then finishing an impressive 14th last season despite operating with one of the smallest budgets in the Championship.

He has been openly frustrated with goings-on behind the scenes recently – particularly the slow progress in recruiting players – but insists he is approaching the season with no thoughts of moving.

He told the Chronicle: "I can honestly say I have not been looking for a new club at any point. I have not put myself in any situation where I have wanted to move on, at all. In fact, I have put barriers around me to deflect that.

"Even when I have been frustrated and not agreed with decisions made at the club, I haven't put myself out there. The first person I would tell if I wanted to leave would be Patrick (Cryne, the owner). But it hasn't entered my head.

"Would I move on? Yeah, of course I would if it was the right club for me, but it's not interesting me. I am probably one of the few coaches or managers who thinks like that and people will probably laugh at me, but that is how I am. If it happens, it happens.

"As long as I can see us getting somewhere and people are listening to me a bit more and wanting to do what I want to do, then I am happy here."