Barnsley Football Club Appoint Michael Duff As New Manager
Former Clarets defender and Cheltenham Town manager Michael Duff is leaving the Robins to take over at Sky Bet League One rivals Barnsley Football Club according to reports from BBC Radio Gloucestershire. The Robins have confirmed Duff would be leaving the club after four years in charge “to pursue a new opportunity”.
Michael Duff led the Robins to the Sky Bet League Two title in 2020-21 and the club’s highest-ever league finish last season. Whilst Barnsley were relegated back to Sky Bet League One after finishing bottom of the Sky Bet Championship last season.
Although not entirely unexpected, this is a blow for Cheltenham Town, who have seen the club stabilise and then grow under Duff’s leadership,. Unsurprisingly, Duff was a target for a number of clubs. this summer and Cheltenham Town will be working very quickly to activate the shortlist they’ve already drawn up to try to find the successor.
Cheltenham Town chairman David Bloxham said it was “a disappointing day” for the club as Duff had done such a tremendous job for us”. Michael made it clear to us that it was a very difficult decision for him, We did all we could to try and keep him at the club but ultimately this opportunity is one that he feels it right for him at this stage of his career.
I know it would not have been an easy decision to arrive at because Michael has built up a very special bond with our club and his family all live locally so it will be a big wrench for him to leave but as an ambitious young manager, we completely respect his decision.”
Michael Duff is set to become Barnsley’s sixth manager in less than three years. After Daniel Stendel left in October 2019, Gerhard Struber took over and helped the Tykes avoid relegation from the Sky Bet Championship on the final day of the season.
Valerian Ismael then led the South Yorkshire club to the play-offs the following season, where they lost to Swansea City in the semi-finals, before leaving for West Brom.His replacement Markus Schopp lasted barely four months and Poya Asbaghi was unable to arrest the slide last season as Barnsley finished with only six wins and a total of 30 points.
Cheltenham Town have confirmed assistant manager Russell Milton will take charge of the team until a new manager is appointed.
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