After it was confirmed that Conor Hourihane will be leaving Oakwell at the end of the season, BetVictor has released the next Barnsley manager odds market. There are a number of names thrown into the mix with the Tykes aiming for a League One promotion push in 2026/27.
The timing of Hourihane’s departure appeared to have raised a few eyebrows among supporters. However, the hierarchy in South Yorkshire are expected to conduct a rigorous and immediate recruitment process to ensure they employee the right gaffer to try and steer the club back into the Championship.
Whoever does get the gig in S71 will need to hit the ground running. Since October 2020, the club have hired and waved goodbye to ten managers – with the latest being Hourihane. For now though, BetVictor News takes a closer look at the next Barnsley manager odds which includes a number of candidates who are a mixture of EFL and England legends.
Next Barnsley Manager Odds: Darren Moore Is The Early Favourite
Having been out of work since December 2025, Darren Moore heads the betting for the next Barnsley manager odds at EVS. Fans will recall Moore representing the Tykes towards the end of his playing career between 2008 and 2010 where he was praised highly by then manager Simon Davey.
Not only has the former Jamaica international sat in the dugout at West Brom and most recently Port Vale, Moore has managed three Yorkshire sides which include Huddersfield, Doncaster and of course, Sheffield Wednesday. Moore famously won promotion with the Owls in 2023 via the play-offs.
Darren Ferguson, Lee Grant And Matt Taylor All Favoured For Barnsley Role
Among the other favoured contenders are Darren Ferguson, Lee Grant and Matt Taylor. The former has an abundance of EFL experience and has secured promotion on four separate occasions with Peterborough. Ferguson also had four separate spells at London Road with his last coming to an end in October 2025. Like Darren Moore, he is currently out of work and can be backed at 6/1.
As for Lee Grant (8/1), he may be lacking in managerial experience but the market suggests the 43-year-old has a good chance of obtaining the Barnsley job. Grant has only had one stint in the dugout which came this season with Huddersfield. At the Accu Stadium, Grant recorded a 41.67% win rate in League One but was fired in January 2026.
Matt Taylor (10/1) is currently back with Exeter City on an interim basis but said it was very unlikely he would stay on beyond the end of the season. In his previous at spell St James Park, he oversaw 227 EFL games and helped the club secure promotion from League Two in 2021-22.
Could Wayne Rooney, David Dunn Or Leighton Baines Become The New Barnsley Manager?
For those looking for a decent chunk of value when it comes to League One betting then there’s a number of former Premier League stars in the mix. Wayne Rooney is available at 33/1.
Rooney has plenty of EFL experience but his struggles don’t bode well. He was dismissed from Birmingham and most recently Plymouth after a poor run of results. However, just having him in the dugout will help boost Barnsley’s profile.
As for David Dunn – who is also at 33s – he has only had one permanent managerial position which ended in him receiving his P45 from Barrow in December 2020. Meanwhile, Leighton Baines is 25/1 in the next Barnsley manager odds market. He has only managed Everton on a caretaker basis but has coached the youth sides on Merseyside.
*odds correct at the time of publication, April 20, 2026.
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