BARNSLEY chairman Gordon Shepherd says that Andy Ritchie has justified his appointment as manager by leading the club to the League One play-off final. Ritchie was given a two-year deal last summer after impressing as caretaker manager following the departure of Paul Hart in March. Although the former Oldham Athletic manager had slipped out of the limelight for four years, he made an immediate impact on his return and Barnsley now stand just 90 minutes away from securing promotion to the Championship. Speaking in the wake of the semi-final victory over Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town – which set up a date with Swansea City at the Millennium Stadium in 10 days' time – Shepherd said: "I always had confidence in Andy's ability to do the job and this achievement reflects that confidence. We had a young squad and we needed some stability. "There had been multiple managerial changes over the previous few years, but Andy knew the strengths and weaknesses of the playing staff as he had been working as Academy director, assistant-manager, and reserve team coach. "I never saw it as a difficult choice to make. He had all the features we required, he is a humble chap who is intelligent. The players like him and he motivates them." Asked whether Ritchie might be rewarded with an improved deal for reaching the play-off final, Shepherd said: "Right now we are just savouring the moment, but I am pleased that he is under contract for another year." Shepherd, meanwhile, revealed that promotion had always been Barnsley's number one objective this season despite playing down those intentions in the early stages of the campaign. "We always thought that the team was good enough to win promotion," he said. "What we we didn't want, however, was to be accused of hyping up the situation to sell season tickets. We spoke in an understated way but we are all delighted with the way things have gone." Barnsley have been given 29,000 tickets for the final which go on sale to season ticket holders tomorrow. http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=117&ArticleID=1507021
