Who’s Next?

Barnsley director, Barry Taylor has denied that the club had a man in mind to replace erstwhile Barnsley manager Simon Davey before he left the club by mutual consent and that it had nothing at all to with the complaints from the fans.

Davey left the club following the Reds 3-1 loss to Reading at Oakwell on Saturday, with the club issuing a statement announcing the news over it’s official website, just hours after the final whistle.

Davey’s post match press conference was brief but he gave no verbal hint that his departure was imminent. He did look like a dejected man and was mincing his words when questioned about the simplest of subjects, an injury to Bobby Hassell. It looked like the sign of a man with a lot on his mind.

The director’s of Barnsley pulled Davey to one side after the conference and after a lengthy meeting they came to the decision to part company.

Barry Taylor told BBC Radio Sheffield: ‘Sitting there I think I felt that the time was right and I think we made the right decision of the time to do it, we had to do it because we were going nowhere.’

Barnsley’s start to the season has been atrocious – in the league anyway. The Tykes have taken just one point from their opening 5 league fixtures, from a 2-2 draw at Sheffield Wednesday on the opening day of the campaign. Three home defeats have followed and a loss at Leicester City with just one more goal scored and 9 more conceded. They have however progressed to the third round of the League Cup, setting up a home tie with Premier League outfit Burnley.

Taylor told BBC Radio Sheffield that the club were looking for a manager already in a job, and rubbished reports that Tony Adams had met with the board already.

Tony Adams was linked with club straight away and 10-1 to suceed Simon Davey with bookmakers Victor Chandler on Sunday. Early favourites seem to be Aidy Boothroyd and Paul Jewel. Both have taken clubs to the Premiership before but would come at a high price – if they would come at all.

Another manager strongly in the running for the post is Andy Scott. The former Sheffield United striker has worked wonders at Brentford, leading them to the League 2 title on a low budget and fits the bill of the next candidate for the Reds new manager as described to BBC Radio Sheffield by club director Barry Taylor: ‘We are looking at talented young managers who have experienced managerial success and have experienced the football league.’

Supporters Trust Chairman Alan Bloore however has put forward ‘the fans vote’ in Danny Wilson and Neil Redfearn. The pair played a major role in getting the Reds promoted to the Premier League in 1997, Wilson the mastermind manager and Redfearn the captain.

They have since gone on to do well for themselves, Wilson is now at Swindon Town and Redfearn on the coaching staff at Leeds United. The danger of course is of ruining the memories of the promotion and top flight seasons in one fell swoop. If success didn’t come straight away, wouldn’t the once heroes be ostracised just like Simon Davey?

The matter of fact is that whoever the club appoints in the next week or so, they will have one hell of a task on their hands – 1) Save the club from relegation again. 2) Unite the fans and get them on his side. 3) Keep them on his side. 4) Get the players on his side and playing to their potential which is actually very high.