Paul Heckingbottom has explained his reasoning behind leaving Barnsley for Championship rivals Leeds United.
At his unveiling to the press on Friday, Heckingbottom said he had no regrets over the timing of the move and claimed the recent signing of a new deal at Oakwell helped to earn Barnsley more money.
Heckingbottom also said there was a delay in announcing the new deal due to Patrick Cryne's death.
He told reporters: "The contract was first mentioned to me in March of the season before and then nothing was spoken about until July.
"There, straight away, there's a big gap.
"I had lots of responsibilities there and I literally did put it on the back-burner for the good of the club and the team.
"Then we had the sad news regarding Patrick.
"I'd already signed the contract a week before but we were trying to get the timing right so we delayed it even further.
"If they want to hide behind the fact that the contract was signed a couple of days before I left then fine. But in all honesty, it was nothing to do with it.
"If you look at it, there's only me missed out on the money of the new contract.
"Barnsley have received more compensation than they would have if I hadn't signed.
"Leeds have ended up paying more. Barnsley have been the winners out of it."
Heckingbottom had previously stated his disliking for Leeds but claims it was from his schoolboy rivalries.
He added: "I'm from Royston which is north of Barnsley and you're a Leeds fan or you're a Barnsley fan.
"I was a Barnsley fan and we used to play on a field behind my mum's.
"The Leeds fans were older than us and they used to kick lumps put of us so that's where that stems from, not Oakwell, not Elland Road, the field behind my mum's.
"To be honest, all that was was them taking the mick, trying to shove down our throat the size of the club and the stature of the club – always a bigger club and that's how it was.
"And those lads who I know were actually the first to ring me and congratulate me and they will be in the stands for the first game at Elland Road so they are probably as excited as I am."
