Gerhard Struber's Barnsley coaching staff breaking up as Max Senft and Matt Rose leave Oakwell
Senft is a key lieutenant of Struber's, having also worked alongside his fellow Austrian at previous club Wolfsberger. His tactical and analytical work is well regarded.
Rose was also a Struber appointment, the former Arsenal and England Under-21 player having got to know him through his work across various countries with the Gunners' European Academy network.
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Hide AdTo lose both is a blow to a club which spoke this week about not wanting to break up the first-team squad as they have in recent seasons. If Struber were to be lured away too it would be hugely demoralising.
The Austrian masterminded the Red's remarkable escape from relegation, taking the team from seven points adrift at the bottom of the table to 21st.
As a result, Struber has been nominated as Championship manager of the month for July, along with Leeds United's Marcelo Bielsa, and has reportedly caught the eye of the Hornets, who will be playing in the same division next season after losing their own battle against relegation.
Struber returned to his homeland at the end of the season for a well-earned rest. He had been saying for some time he would consider his future whilst there, but he is under contract for next season.
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Hide AdThe Oakwell club's own future should become clearer on Friday, when Wigan Athletic appeal against the 12-point deduction for entering administration. Victory for the Latics would spare them from relegation and drop Barnsley into the bottom three, although Sheffield Wednesday's outstanding misconduct case could yet see them relegated instead.
A 12-point deduction for going into administration is standard in the Championship, but Wigan are arguing force majeure as a result of the coronavirus crisis. Barnsley, who have been strongly critical of the Football League's regulation have been permitted to put their own case to the hearing.
The Owls' defence against charges of misconduct relating to how and when they sold Hillsborough to club owner Dejphon Chansiri was heard last month, but there is still no indication of when the verdict might be. It carries a potential points deduction of up to 21. They avoided relegation by eight points. Derby County also have a case outstanding.
Despite the uncertainty, Barnsley chief executive Dane Murphy has told The Yorkshire Post of his determination to keep Sturber and the core of his young squad.
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Hide Ad“Of course, he is going to garner a ton of interest,” said Murphy this week. “But he is our manager and is on a multi-year contract and we look forward to what he can do with this group next year in the Championship.
“To not keep this group together would be unjust. With Gerhard as our leader and with our staff, we need to see where this group can really go.”
Struber only arrived at Oakwell in November having impressed with Wolfsbergerin the Europa League.
Watford surprisingly sacked former Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough captain Nigel Pearson two matches before the end of the season, but it failed to save them from relegation. Pearson was Watford's 12th manager in nine years.
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