Our Chief Executive Officer's programme notes in this weekend's edition of Grove Street.
Good afternoon,
I hope that you are well ahead of yet another Sky Bet Championship fixture. BFC enter February with an unrelenting match schedule, as we embark on playing seven fixtures in 21 days!
With such match congestion over the last month, it was imperative to ensure that Valérien was content with his squad. I have little doubt that it will be fully utilised in the coming weeks. The January market is always odd, but in these times, it was even more so. It was important to work quickly and diligently.
The Club are always looking to improve. The arrivals of Carlton Morris and Liam Kitching within the first week of the transfer window bolster our options at either end of the field. Both players suit our philosophy and have the requisite skillset to excel in the Sky Bet Championship. Despite the current environment, both of the lads have settled well at the Club and in the area.
Of course, we also made an addition late in the window. Valérien made it known that he wanted strengthen his forward line and Daryl Dike goes someway to accomplish that. We’re delighted to get a player of Daryl’s calibre into the Club and I believe he will be a real asset between now and May.
As far as outgoings are concerned, the only player to permanently depart was Matty James, following the conclusion of his loan spell. It will not come as a surprise to you that Matty was a consummate professional throughout and I cannot thank him enough for all that he gave to the cause. His ability, character, and leadership has influenced members of the team and not only will they become better players from the time spent, but they will grow as individuals. All at Oakwell wish him well for the future.
Under Valérien’s guidance, players are continuing to learn and develop, and again, we’d like to see how far we can go with this squad. There was interest in a few players, coupled with numerous reports across news outlets regarding the permanent departure of key figures at Oakwell. At Barnsley, that attention seemingly grows hand-in-hand with solid, consistent performances. No significant offers were made that would enhance the future outlook or current performance of the club. As stated in November 2020, we’ve a good group here and we want to make a real push in the second half of the season.
Finally, to the matter of supporters. Having been in this situation for close to a year, football is not that same without you. Yet, notwithstanding the distance, the players and staff know that you remain by our side. I appreciate a lot needs to change across the country to even contemplate the thought, but I must reaffirm, from a safety and logistical standpoint, we’ll be good to go as soon as we get the green light to welcome you back. We all appreciate that people may not wish to attend, perhaps reservations will still be in place, but the front office team are working on solutions. The one thing I can guarantee is transparency. The Club will reach out to supporters and work with them to ensure our offering is as good as it can be.
But for now, again, please stay safe and whether you’re watching live on iFollow or listening on the radio enjoy the game!
All the best,
Dane.
ORDER YOUR COPY OF GROVE STREET HERE
Our Chief Executive Officer is speaking with relevant local journalists this week and we will update supporters as usual with a round-up here on barnsleyfc.co.uk.
