Hart agrees to leave Barnsley

Barnsley manager Paul Hart has agreed to leave the club by mutual consent.

Lawyers representing the club and Hart have thrashed out an agreement sooner than anticipated and the 51-year-old has accepted a severance package with the Coca-Cola League One club.

Hart was expected to take charge of team affairs for this weekend’s trip to Peterborough, but first-team coach Andy Ritchie will now assume the role on a temporary basis as the South Yorkshire outfit begin their search for a permanent replacement.

A poor recent run – just two wins in their last 13 league matches – has prompted the new board at Oakwell to opt for a change.

“I would like to place on record my thanks to the players, coaching staff and supporters during my time at the club,” Hart said in a statement on the club‘s official website.

“I wish everyone involved at Barnsley the best of luck in their efforts to gain a play-off place this season and do wish them continued success for years to come.”

Former Tykes chairman Peter Ridsdale brought Hart in as replacement for Gudjon Thordarson in March last year.

But Ridsdale recently departed following a disagreement with the club’s main benefactor Patrick Cryne, prompting a boardroom reshuffle.

Hart, a former centre-back who made his name as a player at Leeds and Nottingham Forest in the 1970s and 80s, went onto build a reputation as an excellent youth team coach at both Elland Road and the City Ground.

He led Leeds to FA Youth Cup success in 1993 and 1997 and after returning to work with the Forest academy was later appointed first-team boss at the City Ground in 2001.

After three seasons in charge at Forest, Hart left in February last year and was appointed as Barnsley’s new boss the following month by former Tykes chairman Ridsdale.