After the Reds secured automatic promotion to the Sky Bet Championship, Co-Chairman Paul Conway gave his thoughts on the aims for the upcoming campaign, ahead of a summer break for the squad.
Conway said: “The goal at the start of the season was automatic promotion and we’ve been able to achieve that, after a huge amount of hard work throughout the entire organisation. Now it’s up to the Championship and we need to work our way up that table. I want to send a huge congratulations to Daniel, his staff, and the rest of the squad on an incredible season.”
Daniel Stendel and his side have played some scintillating football this season. The club stated over the summer that the strategy was to play high-pressing, attacking football, with a youthful side. This has certainly been achieved in the eyes of the board.
Conway continued: “We have a commitment to our strategy, youthful players and a pressing style. Not everyone will have the same ideas but some teams across Europe do, look at Ajax for example. In the Championship we’ll continue with our commitment to youth, commitment to our academy and commitment to a pressing style - that’s the Barnsley way.
“Being in the Championship does allow us to recruit from the top of our list, we’re a more appealing club to some players now. We believe the core of our squad is already Championship standard and when you put that with a great coach who can develop them even further, it’s really exciting.”
The squad enjoyed an open top bus and town hall reception on Wednesday evening. Members of the Board of Directors, including Paul Conway, were there to witness the celebrations first hand and they enjoyed being able to interact with supporters once again.
“When we speak to supporters we hear it all the time that three points on a Saturday makes people feel good for the whole week. This is a town where the football club is the core of the town, it’s a one club town and has a very dedicated group of supporters. They’ve played a big part in this, we feel good for everyone who has been able to celebrate with us.”
Finally, Paul confirmed that the club will be looking to improve the squad for the upcoming season, but will keep to their strategy and ethos as we head into the Championship.
“We have a very disciplined strategy where we intend to work our way up the table. We’re not going to come up with whacky ideas. This works, so it’s now about selectively improving our squad and working hard to get up the table.”
