Martin O'Neill working wonders in Sunderland... Did you know he applied for the Barnsley job in 1989 when Mel Machin took over? #fact
yes I did know as my dad was living in Grantham at the time. Mick McGuire was his assistant and was going to come as well. You can't blame Barnsley for not setting on a non league manager though.
And to be fair for his first season and a half Machin looked like an inspired appointment. Until he went mad, started fielding whole teams of centre halves and converting every player he could find into a defender.