Barnsley FC manager latest: Ex-boss emerges as candidate with former captain also linked

The League One club have been searching for a new head coach since sacking Neill Collins on April 22.

Stendel, 50, a huge favourite with fans in his first spell at Oakwell, is thought to have spoken to the club about a possible return.

Meanwhile, former Reds captain Conor Hourihane could also be a potential candidate for a player-coaching role, it’s understood. Hourihane, 33, is currently at Derby County.

German-born Stendel – whose odds have dropped significantly in the betting – made a big impact during his first stint in South Yorkshire, leading the Reds to automatic promotion to the Championship during a memorable 2018-19 campaign after moving from Hannover in the summer of 2018.

He left Barnsley after a poor start to the second tier campaign in October 2019, just five months after he led the club to promotion.

He won 31 of his 66 games in charge at Barnsley and later managed SPL side Hearts and French outfit Nancy.

Stendel has been working latterly as Hannover II coach, winning a regional title in 2023-24.

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First-team coach Martin Devaney took interim command of the Reds for the final game of the regular League One season against Northampton and the club’s play-off semi-final with Bolton, which saw Barnsley lose 5-4 on aggregate.

The Oakwell outfit had lined up a move for Austrian head coach Dominik Thalhammer after deciding to part company with Collins, only for work permit issues to scupper their hopes of bringing in the 53-year-old.

The club have also been linked with several other names, including MK Dons chief Mike Williamson and Leyton Orient manager Richie Wellens.