Wolfsberger’s loss is Barnsley’s gain as Gerhard Struber delivers hope

For Struber, that night psychologically signified the end of one glorious chapter in his career with thoughts soon turning to another exciting challenge amid the aftermath of Wolfsberger AC’s 3-0 home loss to Istanbul Başakşehir in Group J of the UEFA Europa League.

One of six clubs appearing in the group stage for the first time alongside the likes of Espanyol, Wolves and Ferencváros, Wolfberger’s hopes of qualification for the last 32 were virtually ended by that setback.

For Barnsley, it proved a significant moment in their search for a new head coach as Struber – whose side had stunned Borussia Monchengladbach 4-0 and drawn with mighty Roma in their opening two group matches – finally relented amid their advances and decided to leave Wolfsberger.

On Struber’s passage to Oakwell – he was appointed as the Reds head coach on a two-and-a-half year contract on November 20 – chief executive officer Dane Murphy told The Yorkshire Post: “The full process is a long-winded answer. But it took some time.

“We went through a series of interviews. Gerhard had been on the list for a while, but at the time we had to make a change, he was not available.

“Initially, we thought there’s no chance as he is in the Europa League and he’s playing against Roma and Monchengladbach and they are doing well and top of their group. There was not really an avenue to go down, but that changed in a month to six weeks’ time.

“He was doing extremely well in the Europa League and had a very strong time in Austria. As the process went along, Gerhard became a little bit more interested himself and reached out and said: ‘okay, I have always wanted to work in English football and get to the Championship and see what I can do.’

“There then became an avenue a bit down the road later to get him in.

“It was still a significant investment to bring him in, but we knew we would have to make a significant move to help us kick on and try to stay in the Championship and we were willing to do that.”

Much like when he arrived at Barnsley, the Reds remain embroiled in relegation strife, but his tenure thus far has at least elicited hope when there was scant evidence of that in late November.

If the Championship table was based on results since the Austrian took over, Barnsley would be sixth from bottom – which represents a consequential development.

A coherent style of high-energy, high-pressing attacking play which has been bought into by the club’s leading players has provided further evidence to suggest that the move to bring in a relative unknown in Struber was a sound and smart one.

On the thinking behind going for a third successive appointment from overseas, Murphy explained: “From a recruitment side, it’s no secret that we use data analysis to recruit players.

“But we also use that in going after managers and to that end, we also watch the managers and how their teams play.

“What struck a chord was the way he pressed high up the field and was a very attack-minded coach. He came from the Red Bull (Salzburg) system which is a philosophy we like to adhere to and implement with our footballing curriculum.

“He ticked every box we were looking for and we were lucky to get him.

“If you watch how the team is playing since Gerhard has come in, you can see that it is a successful approach.

“We have made mistakes at the back and in midfield in possession, but we have shown in this league that we can compete with any team, whether that be top, middle or bottom.”