Barnsley have announced the appointment of former Oldham boss Lee Johnson as their new manager.
Johnson, 33, currently the third youngest Football League manager, was unveiled at Oakwell on Wednesday afternoon after signing a contract until 2018. He becomes Barnsley's sixth permanent boss in less than six years.
The League One club, who sacked former boss Danny Wilson 13 days ago, have agreed an undisclosed compensation package with Oldham as Johnson had signed an extended deal in January 2014 to keep him at SportsDirect.com Park until 2018.
Reds new Head Coach Lee Johnson being photographed by the press here at Oakwell #barnsleyfc #WelcomeLee pic.twitter.com/yJDKaN64fZ
- Barnsley FC (@bfc_official) February 25, 2015
A club statement on Barnsley's official website read: "From the outset the board determined that it was seeking young candidates with strong coaching credentials and astute tactical awareness. A clear and attractive football philosophy and a viable plan to implement that philosophy was also sought.
"The board also gave some credit for a knowledge of our club's current playing contingent, the teams in our division and proven ability to recruit players with development potential.
"A small number of candidates were interviewed and Lee Johnson was selected as significantly the best of these. He met the selection criteria established and also produced a specific plan for Barnsley Football Club for his first 100 days in charge. This included a playing strategy, specific tactics, identified current weaknesses and credible recruitment targets to strengthen our team.''
Johnson initially signed a two-year deal with Oldham in March 2013 and after steering them clear of relegation at the end of that campaign, he has lifted them to within two points of a League One playoff place on a modest budget this time around.
Johnson, son of former Yeovil boss Gary, became the youngest manager in the Football League at the time when he was appointed by Oldham. Norwich manager Alex Neil is two days younger, with Mansfield's Adam Murray the current youngest.
Wilson, who led Barnsley to promotion to the Premier League in his first spell as boss in 1997, departed Oakwell on Feb. 12 after a home defeat to Fleetwood had left the club in 17th place in League One and staring at a relegation battle.
Barnsley were thrashed 5-1 at Crawley in caretaker-manager Mark Burton's first game in charge on Feb. 14 but have since secured back-to-back league wins to lift them eight points clear of the bottom four.