Higgie Hits The Pools

Last updated : 24 May 2013 By Rob Miles (BarnsleyBoy)

Barnsley legend Craig Hignett has been appointed assistant manager at Hartlepool United.

The 43 year old hit 35 goals in 66 appearances for The Reds between 1998 and 2000, including twice on his debut in a 7-1 battering of Huddersfield.

The Liverpool born midfielder scored 20 times in 1999-2000 to help Dave Bassett’s side to the Division One Play-Off Final where he scored the opener in a 4-2 defeat to Ipswich Town.

He left for Blackburn that summer for £2.2m and also played for Coventry, Leicester, Crewe, Leeds, Darlington, Apollon Limassol, Spennymoor and Hartlepool before retiring in 2007.

Hignett was on the coaching staff of Middlesbrough’s Academy in 2008 and has now moved back to Hartlepool who have just been relegated from League One to work as assistant to new boss Colin Cooper.