BARNSLEY’S new interim head coach Conor Hourihane says that he will demand his players represent the town in the right way – and despite the play-offs looking increasingly unlikely, he’s hoping for a late push into the top six.
When Hourihane rejoined the Reds in June last year as a player/coach, there was hope that he would return as the talismanic midfielder he once was.
But after just 84 minutes on the pitch and appearing in just two matchday squads, he announced his retirement from professional football in December – becoming the assistant coach alongside Martin Devaney.
Following Clarke’s sacking on Wednesday, Hourihane was appointed as the interim head coach until the end of the season.
He will be assisted by Jon Stead and Martin Devaney alongside Tom Harban, who will step up from the under 21s setup.
The Chronicle understands that the search for a new head coach is underway, but no decision will be made until after the season ends.
He says he wants to get the fans back on side after a tough few months at Oakwell.
Hourihane told the Chronicle: “The fans want to see front-foot, energetic football.
“Yorkshire people in general demand that, Barnsley people demand that.
“It’s a hard-working town.
“You’ve got to represent your town in the right way.
“They want to see people running hard with intensity and pressing.
“It was the way we played here when we had success previously.
“We brought quality as well in terms of on the ball and that’s something I’m going to want to see with the players in the dressing room.
“But first and foremost we have got to represent the town in a good way.”
Hourihane scored 31 goals in 135 games for the Reds between 2014 and 2017, lifting two trophies at Wembley in 2016, having seen the team slip to bottom of League One earlier in the season.
He scored his most memorable goal – a free-kick – in a win over Leeds in January 2017 just days before leaving the club to sign for Aston Villa.
He is regarded as a legend among fans – but does he think that will stand him in good stead for the rest of the season?
Conor said: “I’ve got that connection with the fans from the past with the club, obviously having success here.
“That’s one of the reasons why I’ve come back.
“I know I’ll have the backing of the fans, it’ll be an emotional time on Saturday at 3pm.
“The away end will bring energy no doubt.
“It’s going to be an emotional one and something that I’m really looking forward to.
“I know I’ll have everyone’s backing in the building and the fans – it’ll be great.”
Where does the new interim head coach think things have gone wrong this season?
“It’s a team lacking consistency over the season,” he said.
“We’ve been good in spells and then go and lose a couple.
“There’s some quality players in the dressing room, there’s no doubt about that.
“I know I’ll get a kick out of them going forward because since I’ve come in they’ve been brilliant with me.”
There are ten games left of the League One season with the Reds currently sitting in 10th, eight points outside the play-off places.
And despite admitting it will be difficult, Hourihane is hoping there is still a chance at the top six this year.
He said: “It’s something we’d love but it’s a difficult task of course.
“We’ll take it a couple of things at a time.
“To be looking too far ahead in the chaos that it has been in the last 12 hours would be silly.”
Clarke leaves the club with a win percentage of 38.6 per cent, having won 17 of his 44 games in charge of the club.
Sporting director Mladen Sormaz said he hopes that the side will be able to return to the ‘high pressing and attacking football’ that fans have become accustomed to in recent years.
Is that the sort of football the Irishman is hoping to bring for the remainder of the season?
Hourihane said: “In terms of a plan, over the last 12 hours it’s worked pretty seamlessly.
“The club have dealt with it the way they wanted.
“Everyone knows their role, everyone knows their position – so from that point of view it’s been pretty easy.
“Hopefully moving forward into Mansfield I can create that energy and intensity that I want to see more of.
“High pressing, getting in their faces – it’s what the fans want.
“Hopefully it brings good results on top of it.”
