Barnsley have moved swiftly to replace Tommy Wright by announcing the arrival of Jamie Clapham as first team coach on a short term basis.
Wright was sacked yesterday after being filmed by undercover Daily Telegraph reporters allegedly receiving £5,000 to recommend players to the club.
This situation would have left Paul Heckingbottom short staffed on the bench at Elland Road tomorrow but The Reds have swiftly recruited 40-year-old Clapham.
Clapham had a long playing career at left-back making 533 appearances for Tottenham, Leyton Orient, Bristol Rovers, Ipswich, Birmingham, Wolves, Leeds, Leicester, Notts County, Lincoln and Kettering between 1994-2011 and it was at Portman Road where he really made his name helping them win promotion to the Premier League in 2000- part of the side which defeated Barnsley 4-2 at the old Wembley in the Division One Play-Off final and he went on to play UEFA Cup football for the Tractor Boys.
After his retirement from playing Clapham teamed up with his former Ipswich captain Tony Mowbray at Middlesbrough in coaching the Academy in 2012, before moving up to Under 21 manager and then first team assistant under Aitor Karanka from 2013-2014. He left in June 2015 to be reunited with Mowbray at Coventry but he left the Ricoh Arena just yesterday when Mowbray resigned as manager.
That turn of events, coupled with Barnsley axing Wright saw The Reds act swiftly to bring Clapham on board.
Head coach Heckingbottom told the club’s official website:
“I’m delighted that Jamie can come in at such short notice and help us out with first team duties. I’ve known him for a long time now, I know what he’s capable of, and he will be a big help to me and the players, particularly as we go in to a big Yorkshire derby at the weekend. He already knows some of the players and playing staff here so its a good fit, and the timing of it has worked out well.”