Barnsley head coach Michael Duff set to sign a three-year deal with Championship side Swansea City – and be officially appointed shortly

BARNSLEY head coach Michael Duff is set to sign a three-year deal with Championship outfit Swansea City – and his appointment could be confirmed later today.

The Swans targeted the 45-year-old late last week, with the official completion of Russell Martin’s move to Southampton on Wednesday evening giving them the green light to finalise their move for Duff.

Duff, who took the Reds to the League One play-off final in 2022-23 – where they lost to Sheffield Wednesday less than four weeks ago – is expected to take training for the first time on Friday, with the Swans to head out to a pre-season training camp in Spain on Sunday.

Duff’s departure will leave Barnsley searching for their eighth permanent head coach in the space of just over five years.

Swansea had lined up Martin’s former assistant Chris Davies as their preferred choice to replace Martin, but he is set to join Ange Postecoglou’s new-look coaching team at Tottenham Hotspur.

Club statement: Michael Duff - News - Cheltenham Town FC

Plymouth Argyle boss Steven Schumacher was another contender, but he has elected to stay in Devon, while another target in coach Gregg Berhalter has re-joined the US national team – prompting a rethink and a move for Duff.

Report puts potential timeline on Swansea City’s appointment of Barnsley boss Michael Duff

Swansea City ‘plan to confirm’ Barnsley boss Michael Duff as their new boss within the next 24 hours, reports Football Insider.

Swansea City look to have acted swiftly to find Russell Martin’s replacement. Southampton’s long-awaited

appointment of the former MK Dons and Swansea City boss was confirmed last night, with Duff’s links to Swansea City having cropped up earlier in the month.

Reports earlier this week revealed that Swansea City had agreed a deal to appoint Duff, and now Football Insider are saying that the Welsh club plan to appoint Duff within the next 24 hours.

Duff leaves Barnsley after just one season at the club, during which season he guided the Tykes to the League One play-off final where they lost out to Sheffield Wednesday.

Duff to Swansea

Michael Duff to Swansea City Live: Updates as Swans set to appoint Barnsley boss imminently - Wales Online

Credit has to be given to Swansea here, not only for how fast they acted to find Martin’s replacement but also for finding a very capable and exciting young boss in Duff.

He showed last season that he’s a manager capable of defying the odds, despite his side’s defeat in the play-off final, and it’s an excellent move for him so soon into his career in the dugout.

As for Barnsley, this is a very similar situation to when they lost Valerien Ismael to West Brom. They made some poor decisions after that but they’ll have learned their lessons, so expect the Tykes to have a list of very capable and talented coaches.

Who’ll they appoint though remains a mystery, with no names yet to be mentioned alongside the Oakwell vacancy so far.

It’s certainly an attractive opening though and Barnsley should have no shortage of interest.