Barnsley's defensive crisis has seen boss Andy Ritchie move to sign Paul Heckingbottom on loan from fierce rivals Sheffield Wednesday.
Heckingbottom who is from Barnsley and currently resides in Monk Bretton has initially signed on loan with a view to a permanent deal.
Heckingbottom was inevitably delighted to finally get the chance to pull on his beloved Red shirt.
He told the Official Barnsley F.C website at www.barnsleyfc.co.uk
“ I have signed a loan deal initially but that is only to get everything through in time and I can make my debut tomorrow. I will be signing permanently for Barnsley next week.
Things have moved pretty quickly although I have been trying to sort out my future since the start of the month really after I was told I would be leaving Sheffield Wednesday. I have been making Barnsley well aware of my position since then and this is the only club I desperately wanted to come to.
I just needed Andy Ritchie and the chairman to sort things out and give me my chance here. I was straight over here and I am absolutely thrilled.
This is the one place I have always wanted to be even though it has taken ten or eleven years to get here. It will be worth it and I just cannot wait to make my Barnsley debut.
I am disappointed with the way things have worked out at Wednesday because I wanted to play in every game this season. It is a blessing in disguise really because I would not have been given this opportunity to come to my hometown club if I had been playing for them.
I have come here to win promotion with Barnsley. I do not know whether people are talking in those terms just yet but that is my target. I want to be a success and I want to win back to back promotions”.
Paul Heckingbottom was talking exclusively to the Official Barnsley F.C website.
Barnsley Boy says: Will obviously get a mixed reception to start with due to his Wednesday roots but he is a Barnsley lad and we all enjoy seeing our boys do well. A few good performances and his Wednesday past will soon be forgotten. Good Luck Paul
Paul Heckingbottom (Barnsley) Information | |||
Date of birth | 17 July 1977 | Height | 5.11 |
Place of birth | Barnsley, England | Weight | 12.0 |
Nationality | England | Position | Defence |
Comments | Squad No. | ||
Recent Career History By Club (1999 onwards) | ||||||
Team | Debut | Apps (+ sub) | Goals | Yellows | Reds | |
| 07/08/2004 | 46 (1) | 6 | 7 | 0 | ||
| 09/08/2003 | 45 (0) | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 13/08/2002 | 7 (8) | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 110 (4) | 4 | 13 | 0 | |||
Recent Career History By Season (1999 onwards) | ||||||
Season | First App. | Apps (+ sub) | Goals | Yellows | Reds | |
| 09/11/2005 | 5 (0) | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 07/08/2004 | 41 (1) | 4 | 7 | 0 | ||
| 09/08/2003 | 45 (0) | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 13/08/2002 | 7 (8) | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 25/08/2001 | 45 (2) | 3 | 7 | 0 | ||
| 12/08/2000 | 22 (1) | 1 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 25/09/1999 | 43 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Appearances 208 (+ 13 as sub); Goals 10; Yellow cards 26; Red cards 0 | ||||||
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