More from The Barnsley star - Martin wilkinson now gone........

<div id="viewarticle"><div class="headline" id="ds-headline">By Simon Meeks </div><div class="ds-firstpara" id="ds-firstpara">BARNSLEY today began the task of replacing star striker Daniel Nardiello without chief scout Martin Wilkinson.</div><div class="va-bodytext" id="va-bodytext">Newly capped Welsh international Nardiello stunned Oakwell officials yesterday with his 11th hour decision to join QPR.

Wilkinson's departure was one of two behind the scenes changes at Barnsley. Marketing manager Darren Hayes has also left.

Barnsley manager Simon Davey's top priority now is to find a fourth striker for his squad.

He has recruited Kayode Odejayi and Miguel Mostto to join Istvan Ferenczi. As late as yesterday morning he thought he had secured last season's top scorer Nardiello.

But QPR stepped in and the player and his agent drove to London to finalise the free transfer.

Davey explained yesterday: &quot;This has come out of the blue, we had a deal with him on Friday and he was due at the club at <div id="ds-mpu"></div>11am. At 12 we got the call saying he was going to QPR.

&quot;We'd made him a very good offer, beat off Coventry. He looked like he was coming back to us.&quot;

Davey added that he was still lining up other players. He also confirmed Wilkinson had left Oakwell.

Barnsley chairman Gordon Shepherd told the club's website: &quot;The club are desperately disappointed at Daniel's late, late decision &ndash; especially as the deal was all agreed and the paperwork ready on the table for his signature.

&quot;We are also very unhappy at assurances given to us by the player that he would only consider leaving Oakwell for a club closer to his home in the Midlands.

&quot;As we had been hoping to announce Daniel's signature this afternoon, we feel that we have no alternative but to inform our supporters of the events and we are sure that they will share our deep disappointment at the way we have been treated today.&quot;</div><div class="ds-modifieddate">Last Updated: 26 June 2007 8:38 AM</div><div class="premiumoff" id="divSubscribe"><div class="noborder" id="priemiumbox"><div class="boxheader"><div class="left"><h3>Premium Article</h3></div></div>
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More of a blow than Nads or Hayes leaving.

 

Simon Davey

takes a much more hands on approach to signings, he's out there watching players himself, first hand, scouts can help build up background on players, but ulitmately its the manager who should decide, feel a lot more confident about our transfer dealings knowing the manager is taking responsibility for finding players and doing his homework.

 

Also...

he won't be able to blame anyone else if they go wrong

You seem confident of more quality coming in?

 

I am confident

Davey has made no secret of his desire to strengthen the areas that everyone has been saying needed strengthening. He wants 4 quality strikers competing for places, an emphasis on pace and power. he wants a quality keeper, left back and 2 centre halves, and is out there actively searching, watching and negotiating. he's a grafter and is very determined to make us a more competitive Championship side next season. He has the financial support of the board, who have increase significantly the wage bill this season and will continue to do so as and when the right players are identified.

 

Why do they have to significantly increase the wage bill this season?

There has always been money available, you said. (clown) </p>

Kylie S.M. -he's just spinning around!</p>