BARNSLEY head coach Conor Hourihane has acknowledged that he displayed 'a bit of emotion' in the aftermath of the recent League One derby loss to Doncaster Rovers in saying that he felt the club would not be in the top-six picture in 2025-26.

The disappointed Reds chief spoke with candour after the Oakwell reverse to Rovers on March 21, which effectively ended the club's slim hopes of gatecrashing the play-off picture this season.

The comments sparked a great deal of reaction from many of the club's frustrated supporters.

Hourihane, whose mid-table side visit Burton Albion on Good Friday, said: "Obviously knowing that the question was going to come up and having time to think about it, I think the main thing really is that there was a bit of emotion involved, obviously after a game.

Barnsley head coach Conor Hourihane, pictured during the recent home game with Doncaster Rovers. Photo: Tony Johnson.

placeholder image — Barnsley head coach Conor Hourihane, pictured during the recent home game with Doncaster Rovers. Photo: Tony Johnson.

"Straight after a game, you are quite emotional because you've just got beaten. Obviously, you don't want that to happen.

"But I think the biggest thing to take away from it, in terms of maybe a bit of clarity around it, is that look, no one's writing off next year.

"That's probably the biggest message. I think we all want success right now and straight away. But I think, ultimately, people will have looked at my comments and the statement, and everyone will have taken their own opinion from it.

"People will dress it up how they want to dress it up. But the biggest thing, from my point of view, with my words and what I said, is that it's full steam ahead from now, like always - business as usual - and no one's writing off the future, that's for sure."

Hourihane's Reds side visit Burton Albion on Good Friday. Photo: Tony Johnson.

At the start of the week - in a bid to placate supporters - the club issued a statement in response to further reports suggesting that the Reds will be operating under a much-reduced playing budget in 26-27 of around £3.5m - which would be among the lowest in League One.

The statement stressed that chairman Neerav Parekh "remains fully financially committed" to the club, while trying to wean themselves off dependence on owner funding.

The Reds posted losses of £6.6m in their most recent accounts and while the statement said that the budget figure for next season was 'simply incorrrect', it is clear that the club will be operating to a lower playing budget next term in order to cut club costs.

Hourihane added: "Look, the best thing to say right now regarding the statements and budgets - and everyone can come to some conclusion of what they want to think and say off the back of it - is the most important thing is to win games of football, to put us in the best place possible heading into next season and heading into the off-season, looking at younger players and can certain players get minutes in the last nine games to make the development of certain players even stronger and budgets and all the rest of it.

"The club have made their statements and that's kind of the final comment I'll be having on it."

On his message to supporters who are mulling over whether to renew season tickets, Hourihane struck a positive tone.

He continued: "Look, I want to get into the top six just as much as anyone else. Let's make that clear.

"I think I've made that ultimately hugely clear from day one. I want success for this football club more than anyone.

"And I think supporters will know that deep down that the head coach they have in place is someone that really cares for the football club ultimately.

"Do I want to win games of football? Absolutely. Have we been a little bit inconsistent for certain reasons this year? Yes.

"Heading into next season, it will be really hard work. And from now, nothing's changed from that point of view.

"I don't want to sound like the hard work is just there because it's been going on for 15 months since I've been in place.

"So, look, I want to win games of football. And right now, what I would say to the fans is that get on board and be involved in the process. If we're all connected together, fans and club and players, it gives you a better chance of being successful. I know that for a fact.

"If you want to go back to the Stevenage and the Lincoln scenarios, no doubt when you look in at their environments, they're all together as one.

"And they know where they're going and they know the process that they're in. And we need the same one for this football club as well."