All that I’ve achieved is down to role model dad: Baraclough
NORTHERN Ireland Under-21 manager Ian Baraclough has revealed that his dad is the inspiration for all that he has achieved in football.
Baraclough is on the shortlist to become the new Northern Ireland boss at senior level following Michael O’neill’s departure last month and has stated it would be an honour if he was asked to fulfil the vacant post.
If he beats the likes of Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson and St Johnstone’s Tommy Wright to the job, it will be the highlight of a career that has seen the Leicester native play over 600 times in the English game with several clubs including QPR, Notts County and Scunthorpe and have managing roles at Scunthorpe, Sligo Rovers and Motherwell prior to his current role where he has proved a success.
The 49-year-old, the youngest of five brothers, says he will forever be grateful to his “role model” dad for everything he did for him growing up.
“I lost my mum at an early age and my dad had to bring five boys up. The very fact of having kids myself, that task that my dad did was an unbelievable role,” said Baraclough.
“He has always been a role model for me and someone that I still look up to today.
“If it wasn’t for him I don’t think I would have been anywhere near good enough or able to compete at the level I have been lucky enough to do so.
“With my dad and four brothers it was an enjoyable upbringing but certainly one where we had to work hard.”
Speaking to the Talkin Fitbaw podcast, Baraclough talked about his career as a player and as a manager and his hopes of taking over from O’neill.
When O’neill was appointed manager of Stoke City in November, Baraclough revealed in the Belfast Telegraph that if the opportunity to take charge of the senior team came his way he could not turn it down.
At that stage O’neill had agreed to take charge of Northern Ireland for the Euro 2020 play-offs but after they were postponed due to the coronavirus, he left the role last month to focus on his position at Stoke, leaving Baraclough the bookies favourite to take over.
Baraclough said: “If it was offered to me I want to manage at the highest level possible. I would be honoured if I was asked to do the job.
“It’s a job that will be sought after by many good people. Robbo is being tipped for the job and quite rightly with the work he has done at Motherwell.
“Also Tommy Wright (right) at
St Johnstone.
“They have played Northern Irish football at senior level and just to be linked in the same breath as these people is an honour.
“When I first took the Under-21 job I never imagined I would be linked to Michael’s job.
“I would hope he was going to stick around for quite a bit longer actually because I have enjoyed working with him and he’s brought me into the senior setup on certain occasions when we’ve not had games and I have enjoyed that work with the senior players. “There is a lot of speculation going about via the press and media.
“I’m just trying to concentrate on my job through these tricky times and staying in touch with the Under-21 players and my Under-21 staff is key for me.”
Baraclough has secured some superb results with the Northern Ireland youngsters and feels that international football here is in a good place.
He added: “I think the Association is still on the up.
“It certainly wasn’t like that before Michael O’neill took over.
“The IFA put trust in Michael to put processes in place. Everyone at the IFA has to be applauded for that and most of all Michael who was the figurehead.
“I think everyone has worked really hard to put processes in place and hopefully we can maintain that.”
Tipton added: “No one wants a voided season, how could they? There must be another solution.
“We want sporting integrity but is that possible without playing the matches?
“One option is to say we’ve played 80% of the season, it’s as far as we can take it.”
The former Linfield, Portadown and Ballymena United frontman accepts his club’s fate will be determined in a boardroom, not on a pitch.
“We are in the same boat as everyone else. League chiefs have to report back to Uefa with their thoughts at the end of this month,” he added.
“I’d like to be positive but I cannot see how we can play the games.
“It’s not easy for the Irish FA or NIFL. Until some sense of normality returns in our lives, we cannot play football.
“Football can’t go on simply because people are missing it. There’s no such thing as social distancing in football and that’s where we are. Other leagues across Europe are shutting down and making decisions because football cannot be played.”
All national organisations have been urged to do all they can to “bring competitions to a natural end”.
Tipton added: “I’ve always believed the season should be finished but Uefa won’t allow that. We are governed by what they are saying. Now we have a time constraint and that puts pressure on NIFL.
“We can’t afford to lose the European money so we have to make a decision at some point.
“We all want a fair decision and I accept there’s no easy answer. I’m not worrying about it. All I can do is make sure the players and families are okay.” • DEFENDER Harry Flowers has left Larne as his loan deal with the Danske Bank Premiership club has expired.
The former Burnley centre-half moved to Inver Park from parent club Solihull Moors in August 2019.
He played 28 times and scored three goals for Larne.