 On 27 August 1970 , Barnes curtailed a brief spell as manager of Bangor City to return to Manchester City as a member of the coaching staff . When Malcolm Allison departed the club in 1973 , Barnes was offered the role of caretaker manager , but , soured by his experiences at Wrexham , he turned it down . Instead he became assistant to the eventual managerial appointee Johnny Hart . Seven months later ill health forced Hart to step down . In the reorganisation that followed the appointment of Hart 's replacement Ron Saunders , Barnes became chief scout , a role he retained for two decades until he was sacked by Peter Reid in 1991 . In his role he oversaw the development of a large number of successful young players , including Paul Lake , David White and Steve Redmond , the stars of the Manchester City youth team which won the 1986 FA Youth Cup . In 1994 he returned to the club at the invitation of Francis Lee , who had recently become chairman . Barnes served in a part @-@ time scouting position for a further six years . 
