[Lord Snooty]

Apparently Barnsley are considering "doing a Coventry".

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba...ssion=true

[themaclad]

Mistake if they do, like Oakwell it's abit of a through back good old fashioned ground

[Lord Snooty]

A source close to Barnsley, who have played at Oakwell for 132 years, disclosed that a number of other sides have been spoken to about hosting the club's matches, including two in Lancashire

In what may well be a high-stakes move designed to ramp up pressure on the local council, which owns 50 per cent of the ground, Barnsley have taken action.

While the club declined to comment, the source said that the blocking of a previous attempt to buy half of stadium from the authority left the majority owners - Chinese businessman Chien Lee and US colleague Paul Conway - 'discouraged and immediately seeking alternative arrangements'.

They added that the investment would have improved 'dated infrastructure which is rapidly heading into a state of disrepair' and say the move has been made on the back of limited matchday revenue forecasts thanks to the Covid pandemic and continuing behind-closed-doors football.

The current landowners do not contribute toward maintenance which makes yearly costs very difficult for the club,' they said.

Any such move would need permission from the EFL board. Fellow Championship club Coventry City, in dispute with landlords Wasps over the Ricoh Arena, are currently playing their matches at Birmingham City's St Andrew's.

Barnsley are also in dispute with former owners the Cryne family, who own the other 50 per cent of Oakwell. They say the family will not part with their share, which was agreed in the initial deal and have rejected 'a variety of proposals'.

The Crynes, who still own 20 per cent of the club, deny suggestions they refused to sell and told the Barnsley Chronicle that they are taking legal action for £2.75m they claim they are still owed from the sale of the club against Lee and Conway as 'a last resort'.

Personally I think this is nonsense and won't happen, but you never know what the motives of foreign businessman are. Apparently the land was bequeathed to the council as a sports ground and can't be sold for housing. So where do they go from here? Seems a bit of "crying wolf" if it's just an argument over maintenance.

[themaclad]

Spell check didn’t work on my post

[Lord Snooty]

Spell check didn’t work on my post

[Lord Snooty]

STATEMENT: Following recent media reports about Barnsley Football Club, Cllr Sir Steve Houghton CBE, Leader of Barnsley Council, said: "We're shocked and dismayed at the comments regarding the potential relocation of Barnsley Football Club.

“Relationships between the council and Barnsley Football Club have always been excellent. There are no disputes between the club and the council. The council has not declined to transfer the land as there have been no negations between the two parties on this matter.

"For the last 133 years, Barnsley Football Club has been a significant part of our borough, and we'll do all we can to make sure professional football is maintained in Barnsley.”

Muck raking Daily Mail shite. Should've known better, shouldn't I.