Manager has had to battle player departures as well as off-field disruptions but his no-excuses philosophy is reaping remarkable reward
It has been quite some 12 months for Paul Heckingbottom since taking control of Barnsley, initially as a caretaker manager, for the second time. Heckingbottom cancelled his beach holiday last year, booked while fighting relegation to League Two, to make an unlikely engagement: the League One play-off final. Since winning promotion, Heckingbottom has been at the centre of another mission impossible.
Barnsley, with one of the smallest budgets in the division, are looking good for a top-10 finish and the Championship play-offs remain in view after a goalless draw at Reading on Saturday.
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