Alex Mowatt relaxed over new contract talks at Barnsley

The club started negotiations regarding a fresh deal earlier this year, but discussions are temporarily on hold as the Oakwell hierarchy cope with the financial fall-out of the Covid-19 crisis which is engulfing football.

Mowatt, 25, outstanding for the Reds this term, remains relaxed about the situation, with Barnsley retaining an option of a further year in the club’s favour when the midfielder’s deal runs out at the end of the 2019-20 season – whenever that is.

Mowatt said: “We started talking about a new contract before this happened and since this has happened, it has gone quiet.

“But the main thing is getting back to football. I am sure when we get back to football, the talks will continue and we will see what happens. I have an extension anyway in my contract.

“I think the main thing is everybody’s health first and when we get back to football, we will see what happens then.”

As it stands with nine games remaining in the Championship season, Barnsley are seven points adrift of safety with Mowatt and his team-mates remaining hopeful that they can pull away from trouble when football is back on the agenda.

Earlier this month, the EFL told member clubs of their desire to complete the season in 56 days when it is safe to resume, although no training would resume until at least the middle of next month.

Mowatt remains confident that Barnsley can secure their divisional status when the action gets back under way, but admits that he has contemplated the unedifying prospect that they could be relegated if football does not resume in 2019-20 – and current positions are deemed as final ones and the campaign is not declared null and void.

He added: “It would be gutting if that happened as we could say go on a run of three straight wins like what happened before.

“In the last nine games, we can win six or seven on the bounce, you just never know.

“It would be disappointing if that happened and would be really unfair.

“Anything could happen in those games and the table could change massively.”

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