Barnsley boss Simon Davey is set to become The Reds longest serving manager since Jim Illey after signing a new contract until 2011 and has vowed to try his very best to get Barnsley into the Premier League for only the second time in the club's history by then.
Davey has had a turbulent ride since taking the caretaker reigns last November after the popular Andy Ritchie was sacked despite being on the verge of a new contract himself.
With the club stuck in a relegation battle and results such as the 3-0 reverse at home to hated rivals Sheffield Wednesday and the 5-1 stuffing at Ipswich, the fans refused to warm to the novice Welshman.
But three wins from the final five games kept The Reds up and in the summer Davey totally revamped the playing squad.
Since the final game of last season a total of 15 new players have arrived at the club and Tuesday's excellent 1-0 win over Wolves lifted the Oakwell side to 8th in the Championship- their highest league position for seven years.
This excellent start has led to Davey being handed his long term contract and if he sees it out he will have achieved five years as manager- something NOBODY has done since Jim Illey who was in charge from April 1973- April 1978. Danny Wilson was only in charge for four years.
Davey told www.barnsleyfc.co.uk:
"I am absolutely delighted. I am really over the moon to have signed this deal. It has taken a while and there has been speculation along the way as to whether I would sign or not or even if a contract had been offered.
Barnsley host Crystal Palace at Oakwell tomorrow looking to make it five successive home wins for the first time since 1996-1997 when Norwich (3-1) Portsmouth (3-2) Southend (3-0) Tranmere (3-0) and Manchester City (2-0) were put to the sword. Anybody remember what happened that season?…. Nahhh we've got four years to get there!
For the full contract interview and an exclusive picture click here
Barnsley managers since Jim Illey's five year tenure:
Simon Davey 22-11-2006 Present
Andy Ritchie 04-03-2005 21-11-2006
Paul Hart 04-03-2004 04-03-2005
Gudjon Thordarson 30-06-2003 04-03-2004
Glyn Hodges 15-10-2002 30-06-2003
Steve Parkin 09-11-2001 15-10-2002
Glyn Hodges 25-10-2001 09-11-2001
Nigel Spackman 08-01-2001 25-10-2001
Eric Winstanley 19-12-2000 08-01-2001
Dave Bassett 27-05-1999 19-12-2000
Eric Winstanley 19-04-1999 27-05-1999
John Hendrie 07-07-1998 19-04-1999
Danny Wilson 02-06-1994 07-07-1998
Viv Anderson 03-06-1993 02-06-1994
Mel Machin 01-12-1989 05-05-1993
Allan Clarke 01-07-1985 08-11-1989
Bobby Collins 08-02-1984 25-06-1985
Norman Hunter 01-10-1980 08-02-1984
Allan Clarke 01-06-1978 01-10-1980
Jim Iley 01-04-1973 14-04-1978 