However, the four years he spent from the age of twenty-four to twenty-eight at United's then ground, Bank St., were to prove the high-point of his career, one hundred plus appearances in that time and the team never out of the top four in the division. In the first season he made thirty-five starts and continued on much the same lines. Yet in 1900, probably on the basis of money he made the decision to move club to New Brighton Tower. It was a mistake. 

Despite doing well, also in the Second Division, in fact finishing well above Newton Heath as it without him dropped to mid-table, at the end of the 1900-01 season, as the Wirral club was wound up, he found himself out of job and had to return to Scotland. But he did it to an extended family. Frank had been born in 1872 to Irish immigrants, one of eight children, six boys and two girls, his father working as a Jute Mill gate-keeper. And he himself would have four children, three of whom survived, all born in Dundee, having in 1895, before heading South and recorded as a Carpet Weaver, married Rose Murray. So, whilst his unemployment did not last long, Manchester but the City version soon recruiting him, there was considerable incentive to find a club closer to home. 

In fact City made it easy. Although finally with the prospect of appearances in the First Division he made just five League starts all season, ten in all with the FA Cup, essentially as third choice. And this was as what looked a stellar forward-line could not find the net, the team scored fewer goals than any of its competition, finished in bottom spot, was relegated, Barrett found himself released and headed home once more, this time for good.

However, once back on Tayside there was still some demand for his services, albeit not at the highest level. He joined Dundee Wanderers. It played in the Northern League and, although by November he is said to have stepped to the First Division with rival Dundee, there is no mention of him in First Team action and in any case at the end of the season he was on the move once more, although this time with prospects.