 Devaney at Port Vale (2025) | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Martin Thomas Devaney[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1980-06-01)1 June 1980 (age 45)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Cheltenham, England[2] | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[3] | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Charlton Rovers | |||
| Birmingham City | |||
| 1997–1999 | Coventry City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1999–2005 | Cheltenham Town | 202 | (38) |
| 2005 | Watford | 0 | (0) |
| 2005–2011 | Barnsley | 156 | (15) |
| 2009 | →Milton Keynes Dons (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2010 | →Walsall (loan) | 4 | (1) |
| 2011–2012 | Tranmere Rovers | 20 | (2) |
| 2012 | Bohemians | 1 | (1) |
| 2013 | Kidderminster Harriers | 8 | (1) |
| 2013–2014 | Hyde United | 11 | (0) |
| 2014 | Worcester City | 12 | (1) |
| Total | 419 | (59) | |
| International career | |||
| Republic of Ireland U16 | |||
| Managerial career | |||
| 2022 | Barnsley (caretaker) | ||
| 2024 | Barnsley (caretaker) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Martin Thomas Devaney (born 1 June 1980) is afootball coach and former professional player who is a first-team coach atEFL League One clubPort Vale.
Devaney, born in England to Irish parents, played as a right-sidedwinger. He spent time withBirmingham City andCoventry City, before joining his hometown club,Cheltenham Town, in 1999. He was promoted out of theThird Division via theplay-offs in2002 and was named as the club's Player of the Year in 2003. He scored 43 goals in 227 league and cup appearances across six seasons. He joinedBarnsley viaWatford in 2005. He was promoted out ofLeague One via theplay-offs in2006. He spent time on loan atMilton Keynes Dons andWalsall. He spent a total of six seasons at Barnsley, scoring 18 goals in 176 matches. He then saw out his playing career with spells atTranmere Rovers,Bohemians (Ireland),Kidderminster Harriers,Hyde United andWorcester City.
He re-joined Barnsley as a coach after a spell withBradford City in 2015, serving as caretaker manager in 2022 and again in 2024. He left Barnsley in 2025 and went on to coach at Port Vale.
Martin Thomas Devaney was born on 1 June 1980 inCheltenham, England. His mother came from theFoxrock area on thesouthside ofDublin, Ireland and his father came fromBallina, County Mayo, Ireland.[4] He hoped to represent theRepublic of Ireland national football team, though never was called up due to the side's strength in the 2000s.[4] He did, though, represent Ireland atunder-16 level.[5] He attendedBalcarras School inCharlton Kings, Cheltenham and played youth-team football for Charlton Rovers.[6]
His son, Jacob, was called up to theRepublic of Ireland U19 squad in September 2024 after coming through theManchester United Academy.[4]
Devaney spent time on the books ofBirmingham City andCoventry City, before he signed for his hometown club,Football League newcomersCheltenham Town, in 1999.[7] He made his debut in the club's first-ever Football League game, coming on as asubstitute in a 2–0 defeat toRochdale atWhaddon Road.[8] He ended the1999–2000 season with six goals in 25Third Division appearances.[9] On 23 September 2000, Devaney scored the club's first Football Leaguehat-trick during a 5–2 home win overPlymouth Argyle.[6] He scored ten goals in 38 games throughout the2000–01 campaign.[10] He scored three goals from 32 games in the2001–02 promotion-winning season.[11] He scored the opening goal of theplay-off final victory overRushden & Diamonds at theMillennium Stadium and was named asman of the match.[12]
He was named the club's Player of the Year for the2002–03 season, having claimed seven goals in 44 matches.[13][14] The Robins were unable to survive in theSecond Division, however, with managerGraham Allner sacked and his replacementBobby Gould unable to preventrelegation from being confirmed with a final day defeat atNotts County.[15] Devaney scored six goals in 44 games of the2003–04 season.[16] He scored a career-high of 11 goals in 42 matches in the2004–05 campaign, with Cheltenham finishing mid-table in the renamedLeague Two.[17] ManagerJohn Ward placed him on the transfer list after he rejected the club's offer of a new contract in 2004.[18] He was subsequently linked with a move toYeovil Town.[19] A move to an unnamedChampionship club, speculated to beBurnley as they were managed by former Cheltenham bossSteve Cotterill, broke down in March 2005.[20] By the time of his departure, he was the club's record Football League scorer untilJulian Alsop exceeded his tally in the2009–10 campaign.[7]
Devaney rejected an offer of a new contract at Cheltenham in July 2005 to instead joinChampionship clubWatford on a one-year deal.[21] However,Aidy Boothroyd could not find a place in his squad for the winger, and he was allowed to joinBarnsley ofLeague One on 24 August.[22] In his first season atOakwell, he helped the club to promotion, beatingSwansea City onpenalties in theplay-off final.[23] He ended the2005–06 campaign with eight goals in 48 games forAndy Ritchie's Tykes.[24]
He scored six goals in 44 appearances in the2006–07 campaign.[25] ManagerSimon Davey signedJamal Campbell-Ryce in August 2007, though Devaney pressed his case to regain his place in the starting 11 by scoring off the bench againstSouthampton andBristol City in the following two months.[26] He played in victories againstLiverpool andChelsea in consecutive rounds to reach theFA Cup semi-finals in the2007–08 season.[7] They were beaten byCardiff City in the semi-finals, which he said "was like our final".[27] He finished the2007–08 season with four goals in 39 games.[28]Blackpool had a £150,000 bid for the player accepted in June 2008, though Davey said that this was due to a clause in his contract and that "we are not in the business of letting our players go on the cheap".[29] He was also linked with a move to Cardiff City, with a figure of £250,000 quoted as being necessary to persuade Barnsley to let him go.[30]
Devaney made 27 appearances without finding the net in the2008–09 season.[31] On 29 October 2009, Devaney joined League One clubMilton Keynes Dons on a month-long emergencyloan. He scored his first goal for the Dons in an FA Cup encounter withExeter City, coming off the bench to score aheader from outside of the box to inspire a 4–3 victory.[32] ManagerPaul Ince extended the loan into a second month.[33] He played seven games atStadium MK and also featured 11 times for Barnsley in the2009–10 campaign.[34] ManagerMark Robins made both Devaney andLiam Dickinson available for loan early in the2010–11 campaign. On 7 October 2010, Devaney joined League One bottom clubWalsall on an initial one-month loan deal.[35] He impressed in his first two appearances for the Saddlers, claiming an assist and a goal.[36][37] The loan was extended into a second month as managerChris Hutchings felt he was enjoying himself at theBescot Stadium despite Walsall's poor run of form.[38] Having played seven games for Barnsley in 2010–11, he was one of five players released at the end of the season.[39]
On 2 August 2011, Devaney signed a one-year contract withTranmere Rovers as managerLes Parry felt that he would add creativity to the squad.[40] He made his debut on the first day of the2011–12 season, starting againstChesterfield.[41] He said he had more to offer as he regained fitness after being without a club for pre-season and that Rovers were hoping for a top eight finish in League One.[42][43] However, he missed September to November with a hamstring injury, though said he was inspired by the team's good form in his absence.[44] Tranmere's early season form fell away and Parry was sacked in March.[45] Devaney was out for a long-term injury under Parry's replacementRonnie Moore.[46] He departedPrenton Park after being released at the end of the 2011–12 season.[47]
On 11 February 2013, Devaney joinedConference National clubKidderminster Harriers on a deal until the end of the2012–13 season as managerSteve Burr felt his experience would be "invaluable".[48] He scored one goal atAggborough, in a 4–0 victory overStockport County.[49] Harriers qualified for the play-offs, losing toWrexham at the semi-final stage.[50] On 24 September 2013, he joinedHyde United, who were bottom of the Conference National afterScott McNiven's Tigers failed to win in their opening ten league games of the2013–14 campaign.[51] He played 11 games atEwen Fields, of which two were league starts.[52] He was linked with a move toShaw Lane in July 2015, by which stage he was coaching full-time atBradford City.[53]
Devaney was a right-sidedwinger who could beat the opposition full-back and deliver a goodcross.[54] He described himself as "a tricky and quick player who has a will-to-win".[55]
Devaney joined the coaching staff at Barnsley in 2015 and was put in charge of the Under-23s in February 2018 after stepping up from leading the Under-18s.[7] He was linked with the vacant manager's job atMorecambe in October 2019.[56]
On 24 April 2022, following the sacking ofPoya Asbaghi, Devaney was appointed as caretaker manager for the rest ofthe season.[57] With relegation from the Championship already confirmed, Barnsley lost their final three games.[58] Former teammateMichael Duff was appointed as the club's new manager in July and he named Devaney as part of his backroom staff.[59] He was named as an assistant head coach by new head coachNeill Collins in July 2023.[60]
On 22 April 2024, Devaney was once again appointed caretaker manager of Barnsley after Collins was sacked.[61] The club had one game left to play of the2023–24 campaign, needing victory to secure a place in theLeague One play-offs.[62] The match was drawn, though Barnsley qualified regardless, owing to results elsewhere going their way.[63] The first leg of the semi-final was a 3–1 home defeat toBolton Wanderers and they were eliminated from the play-offs despite going on to win the away leg.[64][65] He returned to an assistant role under new head coachDarrell Clarke in May 2024.[66]Conor Hourihane was put in caretaker charge when Clarke was sacked in March 2025, with Devaney in an assistant role.[67] Hourihane was named as Clarke's permanent successor the following month and Devaney subsequently left the club.[68]
Devaney joinedPort Vale as a first-team coach in July 2025, where he would work under former Barnsley teammateDarren Moore.[69]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Cheltenham Town | 1999–2000[9] | Third Division | 25 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 6 |
| 2000–01[10] | Third Division | 34 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 38 | 10 | |
| 2001–02[11] | Third Division | 25 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4[b] | 1 | 32 | 3 | |
| 2002–03[14] | Second Division | 40 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 44 | 7 | |
| 2003–04[16] | Third Division | 40 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 1 | 44 | 6 | |
| 2004–05[17] | League Two | 38 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2[a] | 0 | 42 | 11 | |
| Total | 202 | 38 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 227 | 43 | ||
| Watford | 2005–06[24] | Championship | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Barnsley | 2005–06[24] | League One | 38 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4[c] | 0 | 48 | 8 |
| 2006–07[25] | Championship | 41 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 44 | 6 | ||
| 2007–08[28] | Championship | 34 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 39 | 4 | ||
| 2008–09[31] | Championship | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 27 | 0 | ||
| 2009–10[34] | Championship | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 11 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11[70] | Championship | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | ||
| Total | 156 | 15 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 176 | 18 | ||
| Milton Keynes Dons (loan) | 2009–10[34] | League One | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | |
| Walsall (loan) | 2010–11[70] | League One | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 1 | ||
| Tranmere Rovers | 2011–12[71] | League One | 20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 2 |
| Bohemians | 2012[72] | LOI Premier Division | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | |||
| Kidderminster Harriers | 2012–13[72] | Conference National | 8 | 1 | — | — | 2[d] | 0 | 10 | 1 | ||
| Hyde United | 2013–14[52] | Conference National | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Worcester City | 2013–14[73] | Conference North | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | |
| Career total | 419 | 59 | 24 | 5 | 12 | 2 | 17 | 2 | 472 | 68 | ||
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Barnsley (caretaker) | 25 April 2022 | 14 June 2022 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 000.00 | [58] |
| Barnsley (caretaker) | 25 April 2024 | 23 May 2024 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 033.33 | |
| Total | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 016.67 | |||
Individual
Cheltenham Town
Barnsley
