BARNSLEY fans can breathe a sigh of relief – for now. Sunderland’s pursuit of Paul Heckingbottom is over but it is only a matter of time before the 40year-old is lured away.
He is simply too talented, too well-respected and – critically – too underpaid to hang around at Oakwell much longer.
With Chris Coleman now in post at the Stadium of Light, we will never know if the Tykes boss was tempted to seize the poisoned chalice.
Sunderland were poised to make a formal offer, only to be dissuaded when Heckingbottom expressed concern about various issues, including the quality of the Black Cats’ squad. Even so, with a reported £750,000 annual salary on offer, I believe Hecky could have been persuaded.
Risky
Yes it is a risky job. Over the last decade, managing Sunderland has proved as beneficial to a person’s reputation as working in an investment bank.
There is also no doubt that he loves Barnsley, and feels both personal and professional bonds to his boyhood club.
Denne historien er fra November 19, 2017-utgaven av The Football League Paper.
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Denne historien er fra November 19, 2017-utgaven av The Football League Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
MATT'S BOYS SHOW CLASS
WYCOMBE side-stepped a tricky second round fixture by defeating Wealdstone at Grosvenor Vale.
LUKE SEETHES OVER SLOPPY SWANS START
LUKE Williams admitted he gave his players the hairdryer treatment at half-time after seeing them come into the break trailing against bottom of the table Portsmouth.
UPSET FOR HARRIS AS TYLER HITS STUNNER
Neil Harris insisted the fact that Millwall were bitterly disappointed to claim only a point shows the progress his side have made over the past 10 months.
ANTE AT THE DOUBLE FOR ON-SONG CITY
NORWICH head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup paid tribute to the home fans after watching his side come through a tough test against Luton to win comfortably in the end.
WAYNE'S WORLD OF PAIN AS ARGYLE FOLD
WAYNE Rooney talked of \"the toughest week of my managerial career\" after watching his Plymouth side capitulate for the second time in four days.
WAYNE'S WORLD OF PAIN AS ARGYLE FOLD
WAYNE Rooney talked of \"the toughest week of my managerial career\" after watching his Plymouth side capitulate for the second time in four days.
Cleverley buzzed by Hornets' form
TOM Cleverley insists that his side's goalless draw against Queens Park Rangers at Vicarage Road is another building block rather than a disappointing result against a relegation-threatened team.
FRANK SEES POSITIVES AFTER LATE EQUALISER
COVENTRY head coach Frank Lampard admitted he has plenty to work on after his first match in charge ended with a draw against fellow strugglers Cardiff.
IT'S MORE AGONY FOR TAME TIGERS
HULL City's interim boss Andy Dawson says everyone at the club is \"feeling the pain\" after their dismal run of defeats stretched to five games with a loss at Middlesbrough.
CARLOS: I MAKE THE DECISIONS ON SUBS
Carlos Corberan defended his substitutions after West Brom drew with Preston.
