50-year-old sets sights on Barnsley job after Darrell Clarke exit

Barnsley are under the caretaker lead of Conor Hourihane but Rob Page is eyeing the permanent vacancy, according to Alan Nixon.

Barnsley are currently without a permanent manager after their recent decision to part ways with Darrell Clarke.

The Tykes confirmed Conor Hourihane would be leading the club until the end of the season with eyes set on making a permanent appointment in the summer, be it Hourihane or an external candidate.

Options are sure to be carefully weighed up at Oakwell as they target a return to the Championship. The position is sure to garner plenty of interest from out-of-work bosses too.

Now, writing on his Patreon, reporter Alan Nixon has said that former Wales boss Rob Page has his sights set on the Barnsley job as he targets a return to club football.

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50-year-old Page has been out of the dugout since his departure from Wales in June 2024 but after starting out in the EFL, he’s keen for his next job to be in club management. The post at Oakwell is of interest with a decision to be made on the next permanent boss awaiting this summer.

More on Page

Page started out as academy manager at Port Vale and served as assistant manager to Micky Adams before taking charge as boss in 2014.

He left at the end of the 2015/16 season and moved to Northampton Town but only lasted half-a-season there.

Page’s last club job was as a coach at Nottingham Forest but he now wants back in the dugout at Barnsley.

He served as a youth boss in the Wales setup, then assisting Ryan Giggs. His exit paved the way for Page to take charge as a caretaker boss before earning the permanent post before being relieved of his duties after failing to quality for EURO 2024.

I am back to myself and have a lot more to give' – Humphrys | Barnsley Chronicle

The task ahead

Barnsley look set to stay in League One this season after a 2-1 defeat in Hourihane’s first game. They lost to Mansfield Town on Saturday.

It leaves them 10th in the League One table but nine points away from the top six with nine games remaining.

Whoever takes charge next will be tasked with providing some real stability at Oakwell while delivering on the expectation to seriously challenge for a return to Championship football.

Whether that responsibility falls to Page, time will tell.