Barnsley boss Mark Robins has beaten off competition from fellow Championship managers Kevin Blackwell, Alan Irvine and Sean O’Driscoll to scoop the Star and Green Un Manager of the Year award.
The award from the Sheffield based newspaper was collected by Robins at a ceremony at the Royal Victoria Holiday Inn in Sheffield on Monday night. The 40 year scooped the accolade after guiding the Reds from bottom of the table with one point when he took over in September, to Championship safety earlier than in any of the three previous seasons back at this level after promotion in 2006. It will not be enough to beat their best points tally since returning however unless they defeat West Brom on the final day next Sunday. Argentine midfielder Hugo Colace- who won the club’s official Players and Fans Player of the award also took the Star and Green Un’s Barnsley Player of the Year award.
Meanwhile in other news Frenchman Mounir El Haimour has finally left Oakwell after his contract was cancelled by mutual consent. El Haimour, 29, was signed from Swiss side Neuchâtel Xamax in the summer of 2008 on a free transfer by ex boss Simon Davey, but despite a promising start has fallen out the first team picture this season. He has become the forgotten man at Oakwell having not appeared under Robins. Speaking of ex boss Davey, the 39 year old Welshman has made his first signing as boss of Darlington, and it’s a player Barnsley fans will remember. Left back Dominik Werling has been snapped up by Davey on a free transfer as he prepares the Quakers for their first season outside the Football League in 20 years.
Werling was signed on loan by Davey for Barnsley in the summer of 2007 and became famous for his Roberto Carlos style freekicks. He also had a stint at Huddersfield after leaving Oakwell.