Barnsley will not deviate from recruitment strategy in Championship, says co-chairman Paul Conway

BARNSLEY co-chairman and acting chief executive Paul Conway says that the Reds will not deviate from their recruitment of signing up-and-coming young players following their return to the Championship - with experienced signings aged over 25 unlikely to be in the equation.
Paul ConwayPaul Conway
Paul Conway

Following some richly-deserved celebrations after their return to the second-tier at the first time of asking, the Reds are now switching their attentions to life back in the Championship and will stay true to their established and successful values of signing young, hungry and talented young players with development and sell-on potential further down the line.

Conway, speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield at a civic reception to mark Barnsley's promotion from League One, said: "There is only one strategy. It is a commitment to the youth, academy and our pressing style.

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"Being in the Championship allows us to get a higher probability of our recruits and we have the same recruits (targets). It does not matter what league we are in. It is obviously a little bit more appealing for some players to come to a Championship squad.

"We believe the core of the squad is a Championship squad, so we had a youngest squad in the first three divisions (in 2018-19) in England. When you put that with a great coach developing them year on year, that is pretty compelling."

Meanwhile, Conway has hailed the achievements of head coach Daniel Stendel in his first season in England football and has revealed his desire for the German - who has a year left on his deal - to stay at the club for a long time.

He added: "We want Daniel to stay for a long time here. We'll talk about that (contracts) when it is ready.

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"The goal at the start of the season was automatic promotion and we were able to achieve that with a lot of hard work throughout the organisation, so now it is up to the Championship and we will be working our way up the table."