Barnsley urged to grab their chance of play-off glory against Millwall

The Reds face their second Wembley date in less than two months when they take on Millwall in the League One play-off final, seeking to follow up glory at the home of football in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy showpiece against Oxford United exactly eight weeks to the day.

If the Oakwell outfit achieve that remarkable feat, they become the first side to be promoted and win the Football League Trophy in its various guises since Grimsby Town in 1997-98.

But caretaker head coach Heckingbottom, whose future is likely to be confirmed next week, believes that clinching a return to the second tier would comfortably supersede JPT glory, in terms of kudos and overall achievement.

The financial figures also bare out that school of thought. While winning the Trophy on April 3 earned the Reds an overall windfall of around £500,000 following their successful cup run, promotion would be worth between £5m-£6million in central monies and solidarity payments.

Heckingbottom, promoted to the Championship twice through the play-offs in his playing days with hometown club Barnsley 10 years ago and Sheffield Wednesday in 2004-05, said: “It is (bigger). If we win, I will ask them what their thoughts are now and they will be blown away. My biggest and best two things in football were winning play-off finals.

“They have experienced how good it is to win at Wembley, but it is even better to win a play-off final there. It is ridiculously big.

“You don’t want to do the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy down at all as it was massive and what an occasion and run, which helped to change the club’s season around – and bring the first bit of silverware in over a hundred years in a Wembley final win.

“We celebrated it really well. But this is bigger. What is at stake is not a cup final, but promotion and a chance of performing at the next level. Financially, it is better for the club, but from my point of view, it is for the players.

“They will not realise how big a play-off final is until they win one. It is huge; like a cup final after 46 rounds and a two-legged semi-final.

“What is at stake is not a medal, but the next stage of your career and performing on a bigger stage. There is so much riding on it and you have to embrace and enjoy it, but the reward for it is fantastic.”

While Barnsley may be able to look back on a substantive campaign come season’s end by virtue of their first cup silverware in over a century, Heckingbottom’s mindset is plainly in the here and now – and not the past.

He candidly admits that only promotion would bracket 2015-16 as a great season in his eyes – and is the first to acknowledge that.

The 38-year-old added: “It is that simple for me. Although how it has gone, I would enjoy it for a bit and whatever the situation is, I would be thinking: ‘What is next?’

“We have got to be delighted at where we are and what we have done. But from a personal point of view, looking back afterwards, I don’t think I will look back and put it into perspective how well we have done, if we don’t go up.

“We will have had a great chance there; that will be my take.”

Crucially, Heckingbottom believes that his aspiring players also share his outlook, with that illustrated in their lack of excessive celebrations after they clinched their play-off final place at Walsall last week – with work clearly still to do.

A collective resting upon laurels were also refreshingly absent after Barnsley reached the JPT final in February, with focus successfully switched to league matters as it was immediately following their Wembley triumph.

Heckingbottom said: “I would love them to have the same mindset as me and they have done so far. It is a job and a case of ‘right, what is next and what is in front of us?’

“We have a young group and their mentality is to go and achieve.

“They have not already been there and done it and are not seeing out their career. They are trying to make their career. That is another plus for us in recruiting young players.

“After the win against Walsall, there were no over-the-top (celebrations). After reaching the JPT final at Fleetwood, we had our recovery shakes, and said ‘let’s celebrate’ and then bang, it was back to business and thinking about the next game.

“The lads know what their job is and what they are trying to do. After Walsall, it was literally switching off and what is the next aim – to beat Millwall.

“Everything we have done before is resting on one game now.”

Heckingbottom reports no injury problems ahead of Sunday’s final, with George Smith, James Bree and Marley Watkins now all back in the fray.

The club have so far sold around 20,000 tickets for the final.