Barnsley are leading the chase to make a sensational swoop to bring winger Michael McIndoe back to Oakwell. The 31 year old left the Reds for Wolves in a bitter £250,000 transfer in November 2006 just four months after switching to Oakwell from Doncaster for £125,000. Then manager Andy Ritchie had signed the former Scotland B international only on the basis that there was a clause in the$ contract which allowed ANY club to speak to him who bid for his services and according to owner Patrick Cryne, McIndoe REFUSED to sign for the club without this stipulation and then again REFUSED to play for the club so Cryne was left with little choice but to sanction the move to Molineux.
Unfortunately for the tricky winger, his career has nosedived since. He failed to make much of an impact under former Barnsley defender Mick McCarthy at Wolves and was shipped out to Bristol City less than 12 months later after scoring three times in just 27 appearances. He found marginally more success at Ashton Gate, scoring 12 times in 90 games and helped the Robins reach the play-off final in 2007-2008 when he scored the extra time winner in the semi-final triumph over Crystal Palace.
McIndoe then signed a two year contract at Coventry in 2009 but has now being released following the expiry of that deal and Reds boss Keith Hill could swoop with “Macca” fitting the description of an accomplished Championship performer available for nothing.
Doncaster are also believed to be keen to take one of their former stars back but Hill has moved quickest to initiate talks with his agent.
Meanwhile Barnsley have missed out on the services of Bournemouth centre half Jason Pearce as he today signed for Portsmouth.Barnsley confirmed last week they had made a bid for the 23 year old but the lure of the club where he started his career back in 2004 was too much and he has signed a three year contract at Fratton Park.