PAUL HECKINGBOTTOM FACTFILE

Born: Barnsley, 1977 (Age 39) Career: A left-back, Heckingbottom came through the youth system at Manchester United but left to sign pro terms with Sunderland in 1996. He spent three years at Roker Park, going on loan to Scarborough (where he made his full debut in 1997), Hartlepool and Darlington. Having failed to make a first-team appearance for Sunderland, Heckingbottom made a permanent switch to Darlo in 1999, making 105 appearances over three seasons. He then played 15 times for Norwich in the 2002-03 season before a move to Bradford. Though he won the club’s 2003-04 player of the year award, the Bantams were relegated to League One and Heckingbottom joined Sheffield Wednesday. After 47 games and promotion to the Championship with the Owls, he signed for Barnsley in 2006 and won the League One play-offs in his first season. Re-signed by Bradford in 2007, he made a further 59 appearances before spending the final injury-hit years of his career in Non-League with Mansfield, Gateshead and Harrogate. Having quit the pro game at 31 and football altogether by 33, Heckingbottom joined Pontefract Collieries as academy director in May 2012. Shortly afterwards, he became a development coach at Barnsley. After a spell as caretaker in 2015, following the departure of Danny Wilson, he was appointed to the same role when Lee Johnson joined Bristol City in February. After winning the JPT and League One play-off final, Heckingbottom was named permanent manager in June.