Report in the Mail says he never wanted to leave Mansfield but was forced out. Seems to me he has been very professional at Pools giving 100% despite not winning the fans over.
http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/hufc/Ba ... 4279243.jp

As he says in the interview £100K is a lot of money for a 31 year old...he seemed surprised himself!

AND

It was more a criticism of the manager's use of him than it was of Mr Barker.

I'd agree with that - we seemed to be playing everything long up to Barker at one point. Butterworth blamed the players though! Surely it is up to the management to get the team to play how they want them to play?

this has been done to death. I think every sane-thinking Pools fan likes Barker and wants him to do well. However when the manager doesn't set the team up to play to his strengths it's hardly Barker's fault - and he's bound to struggle if he's feeding off hoofed scraps with a strike partner stood 25 yards away from him. The ball should be worked into wide areas to cross it into the box for him - or else if it is played into him long, it needs to be at a height he can chest it down and shield it until support arrives.
Last season it was repeatedly aimed at his head from the edge of our 18 yard box!!!

We need to get the ball back on the grass again like we used to and we would still find barker as we pushed forward so why the hoof

Tru dat

Super sub all the way!