Paul Hayes

Return to Scunthorpe United Hayes returned to Scunthorpe United (now playing in the Championship) on a three-year contract on 13 June 2007, He made 42 appearances during the 2007–08 season,

Hayes had a solid 2009–10 season in the Championship, making 51 appearances and scoring 13 goals, which included a goal against Manchester City in a 4–2 FA Cup fourth round defeat on 24 January 2010. but he left Glanford Park on 10 May 2010.

Preston North End On 10 May 2010, Hayes signed a three-year contract at Championship club Preston North End on a free transfer. He made 26 appearances and scored four goals for the financially-stricken club during the 2010–11 season. On 28 October 2010, Hayes returned to Barnsley on emergency loan until 1 January 2011, as a makeweight in the deal to extend Iain Hume's loan at Preston North End. He made seven appearances without scoring and returned to Deepdale when his loan expired.

Charlton Athletic On 21 June 2011, it was announced that Hayes was a third of a triple signing completed by League One club Charlton Athletic. He scored his first goal for Charlton in a 2–1 away win over Notts County on 13 August 2011. On 24 February 2012, Hayes and Charlton Athletic teammate Gary Doherty joined League One club Wycombe Wanderers on loan until the end of the 2011–12 season. He scored six goals in six appearances and was recalled by Charlton Athletic on 23 March. He made 22 appearances and scored three goals during the 2011–12 season as Charlton won the League One title and secured promotion to the Championship. Hayes was made available for transfer by manager Chris Powell prior to the beginning of the 2012–13 season and departed the club on 20 August 2012.

Brentford On 20 August 2012, Hayes signed a three-year contract with League One club Brentford on a free transfer. He finally scored his first goals for the club with a brace in a 2–2 draw with Hartlepool United on 27 October, but after scoring just four further goals over the following five months, which was later extended until the end of the season. He scored two goals in 11 appearances and returned to Brentford on 30 April. Hayes played a part in each of the Bees' three League One play-off matches,

Despite scoring three goals during the 2013–14 pre-season, Hayes was frozen out once the regular season started and was made available for loan by manager Uwe Rösler. He made his only appearance of the season in a 3–2 League Cup first round victory over hometown club Dagenham & Redbridge on 6 August. He failed to score in six appearances for the Pilgrims and returned to Brentford when his loan expired. Hayes had his contract terminated on 3 December 2013 and made 33 appearances and scored six goals during 15 months at Griffin Park.

Scunthorpe United (third spell) Hayes signed for Scunthorpe (now in League Two) for a third time in his career on 17 December 2013, on a contract running until the end of the 2013–14 season. He scored four goals in 16 appearances and helped the Iron to promotion to League One with a second-place finish. Across his three spells with Scunthorpe United, Hayes made 282 appearances and scored 78 goals. In just over three seasons with the Chairboys, he scored 27 goals in 120 appearances and helped the club to the 2015 League Two play-off final, Hayes left Wycombe by mutual consent on 29 August 2017 and across his two spells with the club, he made 126 appearances and scored 33 goals.

Hemel Hempstead Town On 22 September 2017, Hayes dropped out of the EFL for the first team in his career to join National League South club Hemel Hempstead Town. Despite joining the club in a bid to regain his fitness, he failed to win a call into a squad before departing three weeks later.

Newport County On 17 October 2017, Hayes returned to the Football League to join League Two club Newport County on a contract running until the end of the 2017–18 season. Due to registration regulations, Hayes was not able to make his Exiles debut until after 3 January 2018. Hayes finished the season with 14 appearances, three goals and was released when his contract expired.

Return to non-League football On 9 August 2018, Hayes dropped back into non-League football to join Isthmian League North Division club AFC Sudbury on a two-year contract. He scored 12 goals in 34 appearances during the 2018–19 season and retired in June 2019. In mid-November 2019, Hayes returned to football as a player with Isthmian League North Division club Romford. After one appearance, he transferred to Southern Counties East League First Division club Meridian VP, with whom he remained until 7 January 2020, when he transferred to Isthmian League South East Division club Faversham Town. Hayes made 10 appearances before joining Southern Counties East League Premier Division club Chatham Town in a player-sporting director capacity March 2020. He made four appearances and scored one goal across the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons.

Concurrent with his director of football role at Isthmian League Premier Division club Bowers & Pitsea, On 6 January 2023, he joined Eastern Counties League Premier Division club Haverhill Rovers and made seven appearances before departing the club in mid-February 2023.

Managerial career and backroom roles Hayes served Southern Counties East League Premier Division club Chatham Town as sporting director between 2020 and 2022. Following defeat in the First Division South play-off final, Hayes departed the club at the end of the 2023–24 season. On 3 June 2024, Hayes was announced as manager of Eastern Counties First Division South club Burnham Ramblers. He presided over two mid-table finishes before joining Isthmian League Premier Division club Stanway Rovers as assistant manager in June 2026.

Personal life Born in Dagenham, Hayes grew up in East London and went to Barclay Junior School in Leyton, where he captained the school football team from the age of seven. He later attended Norlington School for Boys and The Bromfords School in Wickford, Essex. After retiring from football, Hayes began a career as an agent and launched Aspiro Lifestyle Management.

Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Norwich City 2001–02 Third Division

2003–04 Third Division

2004–05 League Two

2005–06 League One

2006–07 Championship

Huddersfield Town (loan) 2006–07 Championship

2008–09 League One

2009–10 Championship

Preston North End 2010–11 Championship

Barnsley (loan) |2010–11 League One

Wycombe Wanderers (loan) 2011–12 League One

2013–14 League One

Crawley Town (loan) 2012–13 League Two

2015–16 League Two

2016–17 League Two

2017–18 League Two

Newport County 2017–18 Isthmian League South East Division

2019–20 Eastern Counties League Premier Division 7 0

7 0 Dunmow Town 2023–24 Football League Trophy runner-up: 2008–09

Barnsley Football League One play-offs: 2006

Charlton Athletic Football League One: 2011–12

Individual Scunthorpe United Player of the Year: 2009–10