Barnsley add former Huddersfield Town, Sunderland and Middlesbrough man to coaching team

The pair worked together at Port Vale and have now been reunited, with Whitehead competing Clarke’s coaching staff. He brings a wealth of experience to the club, accumulated both as a player and a coach.

A midfielder in his playing days, he represented the likes of Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Stoke City. He hung up his boots at Huddersfield in 2018, taking up a coaching role with the Terriers to kickstart his new career.

He went on to assist Sam Ricketts during his Shrewsbury Town reign before working alongside Clarke at Port Vale. A stint with former Barnsley boss Valerien Ismael at Besiktas followed and he reunited with him at Watford, after a spell at Cardiff City.

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Whitehead said: “Having spoken to Darrell earlier in the summer, I was really excited by the challenge of joining a club like Barnsley. Working with Darrell previously, I know he works and I was attracted by how the club works and the people already here.”

Clarke added: “[I am] really pleased to be able to bring in Dean. He is somebody I have worked with in the past who is a well-respected figure and works brilliantly with the lads on the training pitch.

“After evaluating the balance of my coaching staff, Dean will provide knowledgeable insight to an already skilled backroom team. With Dean’s experience in the game, I feel we have a good balance within the coaching staff, and I would like to thank Mladen [Sormaz, sporting director] and the board for their support in making this happen.”