Former Sheffield United, Leeds United and Barnsley boss installed as frontrunner for EFL role

Sheffield United opted to axe Heckingbottom in December and he is yet to return to management, despite links with a number of posts. He was reported to be on Sunderland’s radar but the Black Cats are still on the hunt for a permanent Michael Beale successor.

However, Heckingbottom could potentially make a return to the dugout with Plymouth, who ended the season with director of football Neil Dewsnip in temporary charge.

Dewsnip stepped in when Plymouth parted ways with Ian Foster and kept the club in the Championship, sealing safety with a win over Hull City on the final day.

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At 1/2, Heckingbottom, is now the BetVictor frontrunner to become Plymouth’s next head coach. He sits above the likes of Chesterfield boss Paul Cook and ex-Hull City head coach Liam Rosenior.

Heckingbottom started his career with Barnsley, overseeing promotion to the Championship and an EFL Trophy triumph. However, his reputation took a hit when he had unsuccessful stints in charge of Leeds and Hibernian.

After a period spent working in youth football at Sheffield United, he took charge of the Blades first team and resurrected his reputation. He led the club to promotion from the Championship last season, although could not make the club competitive in the top flight.

Speaking after his dismissal at Bramall Lane, Heckingbottom claimed Sheffield United had lost their identity. He said: "Even if you’ve got all the tools at your disposal, you’re competing against the best. We lost seven of the squad that went up, that was the big thing, all those high-profile players leaving towards the end of the window.

"But I look at how someone like Luton have gone on - to try and build on what you’ve been doing really, really well, Luton have kept their squad together, recruited in a similar fashion to try and build an identity. We sort of lost our identity, through just the financial problems that we had at the club.”