Barnsley chief executive Ben Mansford stressed it was “business as usual” yesterday despite growing pressure on the struggling Championship club after their worst start to a season for 27 years. The Reds are second from bottom in the English second tier after a poor start to the new campaign which has yielded just four points from a possible 24. And Saturday’s dismal 5-1 home defeat to Watford did little to convince the club’s loyal supporters that their fortunes are going to change any time soon. The club held their monthly board meeting yesterday with Mansford, first team boss David Flitcroft, chairman Maurice Watkins, director Barry Taylor and club owner Patrick Cryne all present. And a club insider, who preferred not to be named, told The Star that Flitcroft still had the backing of the club despite their frustrating start. But it remains to be seen how long that patience and backing will last for, especially with the Reds facing a daunting task ahead of them. Flitcroft did a wonderful job in helping the club maintain it’s Championship status against all the odds, but so far this season there have been six defeats from their opening eight matches. And the Reds’s task won’t get any easier with the club due to face three teams in the top seven in the standings in the next fortnight, including unbeaten league leaders QPR, third-placed Leicester City and seventh-placed Reading. The team’s defence has been a clear problem and the weekend’s loss to the Hornets was the third match this season that Flitcroft’s side had conceded goals. In all of their eight Championship matches the Reds gave leaked an alarming 22 goals, with 27 goals conceded in all ten of their outings – in all competitions – so far this season. Arguably the only positive result was the club’s much-needed 2-1 home Yorkshire derby win over Huddersfield Town before the last international break. But that win now seems like a distant memory with the Reds have lost their last three matches and conceded nine goals in the process. Flitcroft openly criticised his players after their defeat to Watford and stressed that “surgery” was needed to mend the gaping wounds which currently afflict the squad. “At times my lads are just going out to try and make do,” admitted Flitcroft. “And that’s not something I profess here.”
That's odd, it was said yesterday that the meeting was nothing to worry about because it's been planned for 8 weeks. Now it's a monthly meeting. If it's a monthly meeting then it's either been planned for a month or it's always been the case. 8 weeks makes no sense if it's a regular monthly meeting.
If the planning cycle only commenced 8 weeks ago it would make sense. Didn't the season start 8 weeks ago?
