Barnsley FC chief executive determined to keep Gerhard Struber’s emerging squad together

BARNSLEY CHIEF executive officer Dane Murphy has stressed that it would be ‘unjust’ if the club’s squad of emerging players is not kept together.
Gerhard Struber, head coach of Barnsley, celebrates with Elliot Simoes after staving off the threat of relegation. Picture: Getty Images.Gerhard Struber, head coach of Barnsley, celebrates with Elliot Simoes after staving off the threat of relegation. Picture: Getty Images.
Gerhard Struber, head coach of Barnsley, celebrates with Elliot Simoes after staving off the threat of relegation. Picture: Getty Images.

The Reds are basking in the glow of their outstanding ‘Great Escape’ from Championship relegation, although supporters are likely to be conscious of the fact that the Oakwell outfit’s status as a selling club has preceded them in modern times.

Murphy told The Yorkshire Post: “To not keep this group together would be unjust. With Gerhard (Struber) as our leader and with our staff, we need to see where this group can really go.

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“I think with a year under their belts of experience and with the leadership core that we have, next year we can compete on a high level in the Championship.”

Much has been made of the need to supplement a young squad with some Championship experience following the successful signing of Michael Sollbauer in particular, but Murphy has hinted that any senior additions would be likely to come from abroad, if at all.

He added: “Will there be funds available? Yes, if there are certain realities. If not, we forge on with the group we have.

“I am more than confident with the group that we have that we can push on and really compete at a high level as we did at the end of the season.

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“Michael’s experience and leadership were obviously vital to us. But I will say this, Michael and Marcel (Ritzmaier) did not have Championship or English football experience before coming here.

“That is testament more to their character and ability to lead a group and be positive at all times that really helped.

“A younger ‘veteran’ group which has a year’s experience of competing at this level, (means) I feel  that regardless of age, we have a leadership core which can push us forward.”

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