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Barnsley manager eyes long-term future with survival achieved
BARNSLEY manager Simon Davey insisted that his future was safe after the club avoided relegation to League One on the final day of the season.
Click here to read the match report and big match talking points.
Goals from Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Adam Hammill secured a 2-1 victory yesterday at Plymouth and the Tykes finished six points clear of the Championship relegation zone.
Norwich City, who could have pulled out of danger if they had won and Barnsley had lost, joined Southampton and Charlton Athletic in taking the drop after suffering a 4-2 defeat to Charlton at the Valley.
Davey, who has been under pressure from a section of Barnsley fans, is likely to discuss his future with club owner Patrick Cryne later this week.
Speaking after the game, Davey said: "I have now kept this club in the division for three seasons. I will be very disappointed if I am not still the manager next season. Football has a strange way of working but I have a fantastic relationship with Patrick and we are always very open with each other.
"The conversation (about his future) has never come up – so I will probably take my phone off the hook now and hope it doesn't come," he quipped.
"We meet every week and speak three or four times a day. There are no secrets between us. We will see each other at the Player of the Year dinner on Tuesday night and will probably see each other one day next week and either plan or not plan."
Reflecting on the club's survival, Davey said: "Staying up is a celebration but, then again, it should not be. We should not be in this position. There have been lots of contributory factors but these are not players who should be in a relegation battle. We have to make sure we kick-on next season.
"Hopefully, we can make a few additions because we are not far from being a very good side in this division," he added. "With a bit of luck, we will be further up that table pushing for the play-offs."
Barnsley needed only a draw to stay up but fell behind early on to a goal by Plymouth's Gary Sawyer.
"We knew we had to take care of our own business because football has a strange habit of kicking you when you least expect it," said Davey. "We bounced back from a nervy start and I am proud of everyone of the players. The news from Charlton was filtering through. You know there is something wrong when you are 1-0 down and the fans are singing 'we are staying up'."
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Weather for Yorkshire
Sunday 12 February 2012
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