Barnsley FC sporting director Mladen Sormaz spoke to the media today. Here is what he said about...

APPOINTING CONOR HOURHANE

We thought there were really positive performances, especially at home, and the football he was getting onto the pitch was really coherent in a short space of time.

I did a lot of interviews across the domestic market and a bit on the continental market.

We said: ‘let’s zoom out, what is the actual tick list here?’ Conor was in the door and we could see him working and he ticked all the boxes. We thought ‘let’s not overcomplicate it.’ He had built that trust with us.

THE PROCESS OF SIGNINGS:

We anticipate what positions we’re going to need, and the coach is heavily involved. We’re gathering info on players all year to be on top of the market at all times but it really intensifies probably two months or six weeks before the window opens.

These weeks now are massive. We’ve been in contact with players and agents but this is when we’re putting our first bits of money in play.

In terms of final decision-making, there are quite a few stake holders and the chairman has final sign-off because it’s his money. But we have to give him the best picture possible of what’s available.

My job is to align it across the market and across our future plans. We’ve all got different lengths of tenures – the chairman’s will be the longest and the sporting director and head coach will be roughly the same. Aligning that is difficult. We are tying to work together on everything but there are slightly different timescales.

SIGNINGS THIS SUMMER

There has already been a lot of work done with Conor. We have a lot of game model meetings. We have video examples coming into recruitment. We have to nail it this year. We can say that every player in every position has to do exactly this thing.

This year we have 23 contracted players on July 1. Last year we lost seven of our ten highest appearance-makers.

We think we have talent form the academy in Fabio (Jalo), Kieren (Flavell), Jonathan (Bland), Vimal (Yoganathan) and also Jack Shepherd when he comes back from loan.

That takes us away from maybe having to take a risk of young players. We know these guys as characters.

We can then focus on other age brackets, and maybe more proven players. It will be a mix but the massive thing is hunger across all age brackets – they all need to want to be here and be proud of being at Barnsley.

CHAIRMAN NEERAV PAREKH SAYING BARNSLEY HAD A TOP THREE SQUAD:

We have to be fair to stakeholders, especially those who invest their money in the club, to have their own assessment. I think that comes from his passion for the club and the fact he watches every game, reads every analysis and believes in the players. I understand there could be another edge to that sword but I think it comes from a positive place.

SELLING PLAYERS IN THE SUMMER:

You can never guarantee anything, however we are going to be sensible again. Neerav and the board have shown their commitment not to let anyone go for below their value just because in the past they would have gone after 18 months. It would have to be the right move for the club and to invest the money back in.

THE CRITICISM OF HIM PERSONALLY:

I put myself under as much pressure anyone else.

I accept any criticism. My name is connected to the club. That pressure comes internally as well. There is a lot of passion out there. Sometimes people say my name in a good way, sometimes not.

THE AIM FOR NEXT SEASON: We say it every season but we have to be aiming to get out of this league. What that looks like and how, whether it’s via play-offs, we don’t know but we need to be up there challenging to get out of the division. That’s just how it is with Barnsley.