CONOR Hourihane lifted the EFL Trophy as Barnsley captain a decade ago this week and his manager that day believes he should be given patience in his current role as head coach.

Paul Heckingbottom, now at Preston North End, was in charge of his hometown club when they won both the EFL Trophy and League One play-offs in the 2015/16 season, having been bottom in December.

The Reds have been trying to replicate that for the last four seasons but, since two play-off defeats, they look set for a second straight mid-table finish amid talk of budget limitations. Heckingbottom still lives in Barnsley and keeps a close eye on the club he has always supported.

He told the Chronicle: “I know because I watch enough of them, Michael Duff had the strongest squad in recent years and nearly got there. Then (Neill) Collins had a slightly weaker squad, nearly got there, then Darrell Clarke had a weaker squad again then Conor has weaker squad again. Conor can’t be expected to do what Michael Duff did. He definitely needs time.

“Forget the budget. I saw the budget that was published for last season and it absolutely dwarfed the budget of the Championship team when we got promoted. It’s not all down to the manager, it’s the running of the club and making the most of the money, making wise decisions.

“I know it doesn’t get any easier with some of the money that is thrown about now. But that is still a competitive budget.”

Heckingbottom is in regular contact with Hourihane who he coached at Barnsley then Sheffield United.

“He was diligent, hard-working and wanted to make the best of himself so he was really easy to coach. When he got that little bit older and I had him again at Sheffield United, he started coaching and showing a real interest in it. He hasn’t taken any shortcuts and had that quality of being willing to do the hard things as well not just comfortable things. He’s not just rang Barnsley to be the manager because he did so well there, he had done a lot of coaching hours before that.

“I spoke to him when he first went in and we still chat, he’s a great guy and someone I always spoke to anyway. It makes you feel old when one of your captains is a manager now.

“It’s a hard job, you can get lost in it and you need to keep clarity because there is so much noise on the outside but he is diligent enough and strong-minded enough to deal with it.”

Marc Roberts and Tom Bradshaw, who also played under Heckingbottom at Barnsley, are now back at Oakwell.

“They are good guys. Conor knows them as lads. They have good experience. David McGoldrick has come in and done fantastic. They are all good people. Hopefully they can help the young players get the consistency and ability to win games.”

Barnsley are hoping to develop young players, as they did in Heckingbottom’s era, but he warns that has to come with success on the pitch.

“There was no one courting our players when we were near the bottom of the league. There are some really good young players at Barnsley now and there is potential for the club to make a lot of money on them or get promoted with them, but they have to win games. It’s alright having talent but they need to be consistent.”