PATRICK Kelly is ‘really grateful’ for the season he has had under Conor Hourihane but admits it is ‘a little bit weird’ that the squad know the head coach will be leaving Barnsley at the end of next week.

The 21-year-old Northern Ireland international midfielder was brought to the club by Hourihane last summer and has been one of the Reds’ star players.

The head coach and club announced on Saturday that he would leave at the end of the season. Kelly told the Chronicle: “I am really grateful for the season I have had with him. He was 99 per cent of the reason I came here. I was really looking forward to working with him and him and his staff have been dream to work with. It’s a little bit disappointing.

“Me and the majority of the lads love working with him. But it’s football.”

Hourihane told the players on Saturday morning when they still had five games to play. Kelly said: “It’s a little bit weird but he’s had meetings with us about keeping the standards high.

“Everyone has their own ambitions as a team and individually for the rest of the season.”

Kelly could have scored on Tuesday in a loss at Stevenage with two of Barnsley’s better chances in a poor performance but saw a header saved then hesitated when free in the box and was tackled.

He said: “The header was straight at the ‘keeper then the other one I should shoot first time, I was stuck in two minds and should have hit it with my left but I tried to get it back on my right.”

Kelly has been a regular in the Reds team since the autumn and has received his first international caps this season.

“It’s been mainly positive. I wanted to get as many games as I could under my belt and I have bar one or two minor injuries. I have played a lot but I am only getting started. I have a lot of levels to improve on so I am looking forward to it.”