Ricky Holmes: Brilliant Richie Barker could write coaching manuals - but should never manage again after Portsmouth

Barker endured a tough three-and-a-half month spell as Pompey boss, before departing in March 2014 after just four wins.

He has never managed since, instead serving as assistant manager at MK Dons, Charlton and then Rotherham.

Holmes was on Fratton Park’s books when he initially encountered Barker, who had formerly managed Bury and Crawley.

Then the pair reunited at Charlton, when Barker arrived in December 2016 as Karl Robinson’s right-hand man.

And although wary at the time, Holmes subsequently discovered where he feels his former boss’ talents really lie.

He said: ‘Me and Richie have an unbelievable relationship, we still speak today.

‘He was the assistant manager when I was at Charlton, one of the best assistants I’ve had. As a manager, though, not for me.

‘Get him as a manager and it seemed it was players versus him. Whenever we won, he went to the press and took the praise himself. When we lost, he blamed us - and it didn’t breed well, we were a unit.

‘Obviously we weren't the best of friends at Pompey because he didn’t get close to any of the lads.

‘Then, when he came to Charlton and I was already there, I thought “Oh no, what is he going to be like?”. I thought I’d have my tail between the legs, but he was brilliant for me, what a number two. Along with Alan Knill, they are the best I’ve come across.

‘As assistant manager, I’d say to him, “Richie we need to do some clips” and we’d stay until it was done. He would give you advice, give you advice about home life.

‘He’s a coach, not a manager. Maybe he has realised that because he hasn’t managed since and won promotions with Rotherham, while was brilliant with us Charlton boys. What an assistant manager, what a guy.

‘He had a bad team at Pompey. Expectations were high, the team was struggling, you are already under pressure - and the pressure got the better of him.

‘He always hammered the players. For his final month at Fratton Park, he’d come into the dressing room, look at us and say: “I won’t be here, you lot will be all right. You lot are on contract, you’ll be sound, you will be fine. I’m the one who will go, I’m the one who will be sacked”.

‘Well, he was right in what he was saying, but can you really say that to players you want to get you out of it? Probably not.

‘If you are the coach you don’t have to do that, just go around picking the boys up. And that’s what he really was.’

Barker had replaced Guy Whittingham as Pompey’s boss in December 2013.

He brought with him Steve Coppell as director of football and Anthony Williams as assistant manager and goalkeeping coach.

But Holmes felt the manager wasn’t given enough help on the training pitch.

He added: ‘Richie has the best training ideas I’ve seen. He could write a book out of his drills - but then stick to that and let a manager manage.

‘Steve Coppell was meant to be helping him, but I hardly remember seeing him on the training ground.

‘He came in for one meeting, stood at the front, said a few wise words, and that was it.

‘Richie was doing everything, taking all the training sessions, rushing down to the training ground to prepare, he did so much.

‘These assistants want to manage. It's the cream of the crop being manager, everything is on you.

‘Stick to what you are good at, though – definitely coaching.’