Barnsley Eye Wembley Nemesis Darren Moore as Conor Hourihane Exit Confirmed

Barnsley are lining up the man who condemned the club to one of its most disappointing days of recent seasons as replacement to manager Conor Hourihane, SportsBooms can exclusively reveal. 

The Tykes have confirmed Hourihane’s time as boss will come to an end at the end of the season despite having nearly a year on his contract to run.

And it hasn’t taken long for Darren Moore to emerge as the front runner to become Barnsley’s seventh head coach since Valerien Ismael departed in the summer of 2021.

Moore has been out of work since losing his job at Barnsley’s League One rivals, Port Vale, last December.

Yorkshire Experience

But he’s taken charge of three Yorkshire sides previously including Sheffield Wednesday who will be among Barnsley’s third tier rivals next season.

Moore guided the Owls to promotion to the Championship in 2023, beating Barnsley in the play-off final at Wembley.

Almost as memorable was Wednesday’s semi-final victory over Peterborough United, overturning a 4-0 first leg deficit to make the final.

Moore was a candidate recently to replace Matt Hamshaw who lost his job at Rotherham United prior to the Millers’ giving a temporary deal to experienced campaigner, Lee Clark.

He left Wednesday to take over at Huddersfield Town but only lasted four months before moving to Port Vale.

Moore, who has also managed Doncaster and West Brom, guided the Potteries club back to League One before the magic wore off.

Former boss Ismael is also thought to have supporters in the Oakwell ranks.

Ismael, who hasn’t worked since being sacked by Blackburn Rovers last February, guided Barnsley into the Championship play-offs in 2021.

Other early contenders include former Huddersfield chief, Lee Grant, and current Leyton Orient boss, Richie Wellens who was in the frame to succeed Darrell Clarke prior to Hourihane’s appointment.