Doncaster Rovers manager Grant McCann admits he ‘had a conversation’ about the Barnsley job in the summer, but is now focused on defeating the club where he feels he did not have his best time as a player.
McCann spoke to Reds officials about the vacant head coach’s position at Oakwell following the sacking of Jose Morais in May, but they chose Daniel Stendel.
The Doncaster job then became available and McCann was appointed in late June. He said yesterday: “I had a conversation with Barnsley when I was out of work. But I ended up at the right club.”
McCann, 38, arrived at Oakwell from Cheltenham in November 2006 then played 44 games for Barnsley, scoring four goals.
He left in January 2008 for Scunthorpe United then spent five years at Peterborough United who gave him his first manager’s job in 2016 before sacking him in February this year.
He said: “I enjoyed my time at Barnsley and I met some really good people. My middle boy was born in Barnsley hospital. I still have a house in Barnsley.
“I have some good friends there like Martin Devaney and Bobby Hassell (now working in the Barnsley academy). I will take them both out for dinner after the match. I probably didn’t have my best year there.
“I scored on my debut, at home against Ipswich, which I really liked and I scored a couple of free-kicks at Southampton. But I didn’t play much and I played out of position. I don’t think I was highly thought of by the fans.
“Barnsley have started this season strongly, which I expected. They have brought in players for a lot of money. They have a Championship squad and they should be around the top two, which they are. Daniel and his staff have done really well and the fans have taken to them right away. But we’ll be going there to attack them, create chances and win.
“I hope Barnsley have a good season, but after Saturday.”
McCann has worked with Barnsley midfielder George Moncur, who he loaned in for Peterborough in late 2016 – mainly using him as a substitute as he is being used now by Stendel.
“George is one of the best front players in this league. He was unfortunate that the form of Marcus Maddison kept him out of the Peterborough side at times. He’s one of a lot of dangerous players that Barnsley have.”
