Considering he arrived at Glanford Park on a free transfer, Ian Baraclough has proved an inspired addition to the Scunthorpe squad by ex-manager Brian Laws. His signing has been said by many to be one of the major factors for the club's promotion to League One in 2004/05.

Eyebrows were raised in the summer of 2004 when Laws signed Baraclough, widely known as an experienced left-back, to play in central midfield. But it soon proved another inspired bit of business. Baraclough led from the front and those around him followed, showing consistency and putting in a large number of all-action displays. With his tough-tackling and immaculate passing he soon became one of the most important members of the team and a firm fan favourite.

He took the number eleven shirt vacated by Alex Calvo-Garcia's departure that summer and, looking back at how he has done at Glanford Park, few people can begrudge Baraclough that. He is one of the first names on the team sheet when fit, everything you need in a central midfielder.

He also has a knack of scoring important goals. The best one, arguably, the thunderbolt that he bulleted in against his former club Mansfield in September 2004.

Though he scored the goal that put United in their highest league position for forty years, his strike against Southend sent United to the top of League One in August of last season.

His match fitness has defied his years. A problem during 2005/06 was that he never had a consistent midfield partner but during the following title-winning campaign, Matt Sparrow made a real impression in the centre and formed a partnership with Baraclough, which added a much needed spark to the team's play.

Baraclough began his career back in 1992 with Lincoln and after two seasons and having notched up over 70 appearances with the Imps he moved on to Mansfield Town.

It was after a successful spell there that he moved onto Notts County, it was to be his first spell at the club. He stayed with the Magpies for nearly three seasons before moving on to QPR in a cut-price £75k deal in March 1998 - during Notts County's title-winning season. But the then left full-back re-signed for the Magpies from the Londoners a little over two seasons later and spent the next four years at Meadow Lane, fighting it out in what was then the Second Division.

An articulate and thoughtful man, whose intelligence spills out onto the pitch, Baraclough is a major player at Glanford Park and it is excellent to see people with the experience of he and Andy Crosby getting the chance to assist boss Nigel Adkins, a challenge that Bara has certainly enjoyed the responsibility of.

Now in his 37th year, can the co-assistant manager keep up his excellent form and help the Iron stay in the Championship?