In the summer,
Danny Wilson departed Barnsley to join
Sheffield Wednesday, and with the team looking to bounce back to the Premier League
John Hendrie was named manager. The Red's promotion hopes were hampered when they lost influential captain
Neil Redfearn who was sold to
Charlton Athletic after making 338 first team appearances for Barnsley. The season was mostly unremarkable in terms of results and on 19 April 1999, Hendrie was sacked with the club nowhere near the top six and Hendrie's assistant
Eric Winstanley took caretaker charge for the remaining games of the season. Barnsley then went on to finish a disappointing campaign in 13th place. One of the highlights of the season was a 7–1 home victory against local rivals
Huddersfield Town. This was the only time new signing
Craig Hignett and
Ashley Ward played together, with Ward leaving for
Blackburn. After the season Barnsley lost yet more players from the promotion season, with solid defender
Arjan de Zeeuw and attacking midfield player
Clint Marcelle both leaving the club. Goalkeeper
David Watson also suffered an injury mid-season that later ended his career. ==Final league table==