Caretaker manager
In the 2001–02 season, after a mediocre start with Barnsley reaching eleventh by mid-September, results started to go downhill and the team found themselves hovering around the relegation zone. Following a 3–1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, Spackman and coach Derek Fazackerley were both sacked. Caretaker manager Glyn Hodges won his first game in charge 3–2 against West Bromwich Albion, however two 3–0 defeats followed against Manchester City and Watford.