Neill Collins was sacked by Barnsley with one game to go in the season, leaving Martin Devaney in charge of that one, where he led the team to a 1-1 draw with Northampton, cementing their League One playoff position.
The Tykes now go forward, Bolton are their opponents, with the first leg on Friday.
It seems as though Devaney will lead them into that game, but the next Barnsley manager odds have been fascinating to watch. We’ve had two managers go odds on in the market, only to not get the job for differing reasons, it seems pretty chaotic at the moment down at Oakwell.
Next Barnsley Manager Odds
The betting has seen yet another massive shake up.
Firstly, Dominik Thalhammer went odds on, seemingly agreed on the job, before failing to get a work permit.
Then the speculation turned to Richie Wellens, but he’s now signed a new deal with Leyton Orient to stay there.
This ever changing football betting market is done just yet, and the speculation continues while the players and staff are trying to prepare for the two biggest games of the season.
| Manager | Latest Betting Odds |
|---|---|
| Mike Williamson | 4/1 |
| Dominik Thalhammer | 4/1 |
| Paul Heckingbottom | 8/1 |
| Michael Duff | 8/1 |
| Richie Wellens | 8/1 |
| Martin Devaney | 10/1 |
Odds correct at time of writing with BetVictor (May 1st, 1:00pm)
Leading Candidates to be the Next Barnsley Manager
Let’s take a look at some of the names towards the head of the betting market.
Mike Williamson
Barnsley have got themselves into the end of season playoffs, and so has Mike Williamson, a league below, with MK Dons in League Two.
If this appointment happens, it won’t be until both teams have finished their playoff runs, which does make things a little more difficult to understand, especially if Barnsley get promoted, as that would increase the chances of Martin Devaney being given the role full time.
Williamson is an up and coming manager, impressing at Gateshead for playing football, rather than the traditional rough and ready non-league style.
He’s transferred that to MK Dons, where he’s given them an attractive, possession based style that has brought results so it’s no surprise those higher up the ladder are keeping an eye on him.
Richie Wellens
Wellens is the current boss of League One side Leyton Orient, and with his new contract signed, is seemingly out of the running for this, despite remaining in the betting.
He’s taken them into League One, and that came on the back of a couple of troubled spells him, at Doncaster and Salford, where things didn’t really work out.
There has been good and bad so far during his managerial career, and while he’s got experience, I also still think he’s got a bit to prove. This job would certainly give him his biggest chance to date to prove he is a good manager who can go places in the game.
Dominik Thalhammer
If you believe the online rumour mill, Barnsley had flown Thalhammer over, spoke with him and agreed a deal last week. Only for him to fail in getting a work permit.
It does sound like something Barnsley would do, but could also be the nail in the coffin for his chances of becoming the next Barnsley manager.
Without a work permit, unless Barnsley find a way around it, Thalhammer won’t be heading to Oakwell, but despite that, he remains towards the head of the market.
Martin Devaney
Martin Devaney has been one of the final candidates for the job over the last two appointments, but the board have so far decided it isn’t his time.
He will again oversee the club for a short period, and results under Devaney are likely to enhance or harm his credentials. That began with a 1-1 draw at home to Northampton on Saturday, and all in all, it was a pretty lacklustre performance, barring 10 minutes of good play.
Appointing him would strike as being safe, and lacking ambition, but he would bring some desperately needed continuity and stability. He’s unlikely to move on quickly, if he does well, as he’s settled in the area and has been at the club for many years.
Michael Duff
“I’m here for a long time, and to build a project” were the words of Michael Duff when he was appointed as Barnsley manager in the summer of 2022. Less than 12 months later, after losing in the playoff final at Wembley, he left Barnsley to join Swansea, where he didn’t last long, and now remains without a club.
The football was good under Duff, he cared, the team cared, and some of the memories from that season under him are up there with the best.
But he jumped ship, went back against his word, left fans with a very sour taste in their mouth, and his return would be interesting, if nothing else.
Paul Heckingbottom
You wonder whether ‘Hecky’ will price himself out of this, after getting promotion to the Premier League with Sheffield United last season, he is likely to be in the frame for other, higher end jobs over the next few months.
But he does live in Barnsley, has managed the club before, and has a really good relationship with the fans here. I think he’d be a popular appointment, but the worry would always be whether he will stay, or go elsewhere should a bigger opportunity come up.
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