Why Barnsley fans can be cautiously optimistic about the future
Why Barnsley fans can be cautiously optimistic about the future
Now we have heard from the new board members at Barnsley football club the time is right to pass comment on those recent press conferences at Oakwell. As fans we can be cautiously optimistic.
Those supporters who have listened to me talk about the subject of the board and how the club is being run on The Reds Report Podcast know I don’t buy any old chat and firmly believe actions speak louder than words. Having listened and read everything that has come out of the club over the last week or so I feel now is the time to put my take on things. Once again, this is my view and by no means do I feel I am right. Every fan has a voice that deserves to be heard but this blog gives me the opportunity to share my thoughts to a wide audience. Feel free to share your thoughts on this post in the comments section.
Conway & Lee
I think I speak for everyone here when I say good riddance certainly to Paul Conway. Whilst he still remains a shareholder, being voted off the board means he has no involvement in the day to day running of Barnsley FC.
The list of errors Conway has made would fill this blog post but ultimately he has been such a divisive figure at the club resulting in the Conway Out movement amongst some supporters that it’s a relief he cannot continue making huge errors at the club. Whilst blame for relegation can be portioned to the players and managers last season the majority lies at the door of Conway and his disastrous tinkering in the transfer market. What should have been a stroll in staying in the Championship became a nightmare where the reds finished bottom behind a side that was deducted 21 points last season and Conway`s actions has set this club back a number of years.
It is clear when listening to Neerav Parekh, Julie Anne Quay and Jean Cryne the strong feelings they had toward Paul Conway and his handling of the club over the last four years. There is clearly no love lost there and no wonder he was voted off the board.
A United Board
What I have found from the round of interviews of board members is a unified team who all now appear to have one common goal of working together for the good of Barnsley FC. There appear no huge egos and a group of investors who seem to have the same ideas and collective drive going forward. Each person who has stepped up to be interviewed seems to be singing from the same hymn sheet unlike in the previous few years. It is encouraging to hear this and interesting to see what such disdain the new board had for Conway and his methods. Whilst the language has been professional, it is clear that those now in power at the club do not endorse Conway`s methods. It will be interesting to see whether Conway is agreeable to selling his shares and whether the current investors are willing to buy his stake in the club and rid Barnsley all together of Paul Conway.
Manager recruitment
Whilst supporters want a new manager in place asap, I have been encouraged by the clubs actions in making sure they do due diligence in getting the new managerial appointment right and not dive in and get the wrong man in.
The club wants a new manager by the time pre-season training starts on June 20th. CEO Khaled el Ahmad has previously mentioned that the reds appear to start seasons slowly, something he is keen to change. Getting a new manager in place at the start of pre-season is the club’s goal and judging by Khaled`s comments recently that should be achieved.
What is clear from the names banded about and the state of the clubs financial power or lack of it due to relegation there will be no big Championship name coming in like Neil Warnock, Ian Holloway or Tony Mowbray. The club wouldn’t be able to afford a financial package in terms of wages or transfer budget to attract those types of managers hence the likes of Jimmy Floyd Hasslebaink and Michael Duff being interviewed. Which leads me onto the next point.
Realistic expectations for player recruitment
We all know relegation will cost the club between £7m-£8m and therefore some of our “better” players will have to be sold to cover that shortfall. With a drop in season ticket and match day ticket revenue expected the likes of Helik, Woodrow, Morris, Styles, Andersen may well have played there last games for the reds.
What is encouraging is the talk from the board of not needing to accept the first bids that have already come in for players. Historically Barnsley have sold off the crown jewels for knock down prices, something that has to stop. There seems to be an acknowledgement of this so hopefully the board will play hardball with some of the clubs who come sniffing for our players.
The chairman has also alluded to previous mistakes of not recruiting experienced players to the club. While Parekh accepts experience doesn’t come cheap he does at least see value in bringing in experienced players if the finances can stretch. Something supporters have been saying for sometime now.
Loan players will be utilised to fill gaps within the squad, another thing Conway hated although he did a huge uturn in the January window in bringing in Bassi and Quina on loan. The mantra of “we don’t develop other clubs players” has been torn up now and certainly Vita, Gomes and Bassi all contributed positively to the reds last season.
The club will continue its data driven recruitment method and bring in younger players but at least the squad will have a sprinkling of experience throughout it also.
Overall I am cautiously optimistic for the months ahead. There is no magic wand, no sugar daddy to throw cash at the club and buy our way out of League One but there now appears a united board all with the same ideas of how to stabilise the club and get it back to the Championship. No one expects that to happen next season and I will reiterate my view of “actions speak louder than words” but for now I see a clearer plan of how the board will take the club forward over the next year or so.
