Following a pitch inspection at around 4:30pm on Tuesday afternoon, the playing surface was deemed unsafe by referee Darren Handley, consequently meaning the match was postponed.
This correspondence came just three-and-a half hours prior to kick-off. Considering the distance from Barnsley to Exeter - the journey that the majority of our supporters will have made - at the Club we feel that this is unacceptable.
Whilst money is tight for a lot of people in the current economic times, we feel that more consideration should be taken by the authorities in making a swifter decision to accommodate the travelling supporters. Instead, hundreds of Barnsley fans invested a lot of time and money only for the match to be postponed.
Furthermore, our first team players and coaching staff travelled down to Exeter the day before the match for optimal preparation. However, this financial sacrifice appeared to be made in vain due to the late communication from authorities.
During what are tough economic times for the Football Club, expenditure undertaken on trips such as these are big investments and cannot afford to be wasted. Scenarios that arise, such as those seen on Tuesday afternoon, can be avoided with more stringent and clear protocol.
Therefore, along with the Barnsley Football Club Supporters Trust, we are writing to the EFL to seek further clarity on the decision making process that led to the conclusion of the game being postponed and what can be done in the future to avoid such situations.
Supporters will be updated on the response to our enquiries.
Reds fans are invited to join both CEO, Khaled El-Ahmad and Head Coach, Michael Duff On Thursday 9 February 2023 for an evening with key Reds personnel! This event is FREE to attend for 22/23 season ticket holders, with tickets available to book online using the link below. Please note that with limited capacity and plenty of interest, you'll need to be fast to guarantee your seat!
