BARNSLEY are set to play their first game since their play-off defeat at Bolton Wanderers 67 days ago when they visit Alfreton Town in their opening friendly tomorrow.
They will be hoping it is the start of a solid summer of preparation under Darrell Clarke before the competitive campaign begins in a month.
The last few summers have been fairly chaotic. A year ago this week, Neill Collins was still a jet-lagged new appointment trying to get to know his squad – a process that would require him to cancel friendlies at late notice to focus on training. The Reds had been beaten 9-1 at home to Leeds and had a game at Fylde called off due to a thunderstorm.
The previous summer was more stable in terms of the head coach appointment but a memorable image of Michael Duff’s first friendly is the likes of Carlton Morris and Michal Helik sitting on the grass next to Worksop Town’s pitch as their inevitable exits drew closer. There is less uncertainty over the Reds’ squad this summer, with Callum Styles likely to leave but the club determined to keep their star men such as Adam Phillips.
It must be hoped that, if there is a substantial multi-million bid they cannot turn down, the Reds can bring in an adequate replacement promptly.
Probably the most chaotic summer was that of 2021, when – after being two wins from the Premier League – the head coach, chief executive and almost all the background staff left while Paul Conway’s decisions as stand-in CEO led, at least partly, to relegation and saddled the club with flop signings on huge wages.
In theory, this summer should be much better. They have a simple pre-season schedule of four well spaced-out games against varied opposition. By all accounts, pre-season training has been positive and the players are taking to Clarke well.
There are still some doubts about the future of the club.
Tomorrow, July 13, marks a year since Barnsley were handed a raft of EFL charges – and the punishment is yet to be confirmed, although the Reds seem confident they will not be given a points deduction or huge fine.
Then of course there is the recruitment of new players – with several needed before the start of the campaign.
Player/coach Conor Hourihane and veteran defender Marc Roberts are a popular duo and add much-needed experience while new goalkeeper Jackson Smith is an exciting prospect.
They will have to be joined by at least one left wing-back, midfielder and striker.
The data-driven recruitment – once boasting a proud record of unearthing gems – has been less reliable in recent windows, especially with forwards, and needs to be spot-on this time with Barnsley replacing six of last season’s regular starting 11 who have all left the club.
Of course they need to bring in more players soon. They cannot start the season – or even get to within days of it – with no senior left-backs in the squad, then having to shoehorn a right-footed player in there.
The same could be said about bolstering a strikeforce with very few proven goal-scorers in it. But it is thought that the best deals for strikers may be available later in the summer when the top clubs have their players back from the European Championships and are allowing others to filter down the pyramid. Another midfielder is also expected.
But there is still some time to add to the squad, with many players already in it keen to show they have a future at the club with performances in the upcoming friendlies.
