Michael Barron

Coaching career During his final playing season with Hartlepool, Micky was a player-coach for the League One side as the youth team coach. He kept up this role before being the club's assistant manager to Mick Wadsworth whilst undertaking the role of reserve team coach; John Hewitson was then put in charge of Barron's previous role of youth team coach. He was appointed first-team coach under John Hughes, before he was sacked along with Hughes in May 2013 which allowed Colin Cooper and Craig Hignett to replace to pair later on that month.

He took on first-team duties as caretaker manager on 6 December 2011, following the sacking of previous manager Mick Wadsworth. He was in charge for three games, losing the first two and then beating Oldham Athletic 1–0, but reverted to his reserve team duties when Neale Cooper was appointed manager on 28 December 2011.

Cooper resigned as Hartlepool manager on 24 October 2012 with the club sitting bottom of League One leaving Barron in charge as caretaker manager until a new manager was appointed. He drew his first game in his second stint as caretaker manager 2–2 against Brentford courtesy of a late own goal, assisted by Ritchie Humphreys.

In September 2020, Barron became assistant manager to former teammate Michael Nelson at Blyth Spartans. Following Nelson's dismissal in November 2021, Barron took temporary charge of Blyth.

In August 2024, Barron took up a coaching role at the Park View Academy of Sport. His role is to coach the first-year students at who, as part of a partnership with the college, play for Chester-le-Street United U18s.

Media career Since May 2020, Barron co-hosts Switch of Play which is a podcast of interviews with former Hartlepool players, alongside the club's former media manager Mark Simpson.

From the start of the 2023–24 season, Barron began working as a co-commentator for BBC Radio Tees reporting on Hartlepool games.

Personal life Alongside his coaching, he works as a teacher.

In May 2024, Barron revealed that he had been diagnosed with heart failure.

Career statistics

Managerial statistics

Honours Hartlepool United Football League Third Division second-place promotion: 2002–03 Football League Two second-place promotion: 2006–07

Individual Hartlepool United Player of the Year: 1997–98, 1998–99