Barron looking forward not back

Apr 27 2008 Sunday Sun

HARTLEPOOL stalwart Micky Barron admits he has no regrets at ending his playing days.

The club captain has not appeared for the first team in over a year, and is now the club’s youth team coach after Paul Stephenson left Pools for Norwich City.

Barron has enjoyed a successful start to his coaching career, after leading the youth team to the final of the Youth Alliance Cup last weekend.

And while Pools may have lost 3-2 to Hull City, Barron is hoping for a long and successful coaching career at the club where he spent over 10 years.

“I’ve got my head around not playing now,” he admitted. “At the start of the season I was concentrating on playing, but that wasn’t really going to happen and then the youth team job dropped into my lap.

“There’s good people here to learn from and people tell me it’s gone well so far, but I don’t think I can take that much credit for what’s gone one, I’ve come in on the back of an already well-run set-up.”

Barron led Pools to two promotions and through five play-off campaigns and the crowd favourite hopes to be around for a long time yet.

Barron’s season ended on a low note as the youth team yesterday lost 3-0 to York City.