Barnsley Head Coach Paul Heckingbottom has penned a new 12 month rolling contract at the club. Although the same length as his previous deal - signed when he become permanent head coach in the summer of 2016, i.e each day he has another 12 months left- this deal is on improved terms to reflect his efforts in rebuilding the squad over the course of the past 15 months and keeping the club in the Championship.
"Hecky" revealed the contract had been signed and sealed some weeks ago but it was only made public yesterday so the club could concentrate on the January transfer window and also not to overshadow the sad loss of former owner and benefactor Patrick Cryne.
He told the club website:
It’s something that if we’re honest was done a while ago in terms of being agreed, but getting involved in the transfer window followed by the sad news about Patrick put it on the back burner. It’s nice to get it all out in the open and people can stop asking me about it now!
“I started speaking with Gauthier about it a long time ago, there was never any issue about getting it done. Gauthier and myself both knew it was going to happen and we were relaxed about it. It’s nice for everyone now to understand why we were relaxed, there was never any doubt.”
Since taking over from Lee Johnson on the 6th February 2016 - initially on a caretaker basis - Hecky has been in charge for 104 games, winning 37, drawing 28 and losing 39, however only two of those victories have come in the last 15 games.