<div class="byline" id="ds-byline">By Ian Appleyard</div><div class="byline" id="ds-byline"></div> <div class="ds-firstpara" id="ds-firstpara">When Simon Davey first stepped into the manager's office at Barnsley, his morning mail could have been labelled with an 18 certificate.</div><div class="ds-firstpara" id="ds-firstpara"></div> A section of Barnsley's supporters were convinced that the Welshman, 35, was the wrong man for the job and were not afraid to say so in angry letters to the former Academy coach. Eight months down the road, however, Davey has steered Barnsley to Championship survival and gone a long way to silencing his doubters. His next challenge will be to prove that it was no fluke – which means building on last season's success and lifting Barnsley up the table. "There were a lot of sceptics around last season who felt I was not the right appointment," Davey recalls. "I get letters every day and, at the beginning of the reign, they were sometimes a bit obscene. "But I have had well-wishes since that have been terribly supportive. Hopefully, I have proved a few doubters wrong. Mind you, they say you are only as good as your last game – and in my last game we got beat 7-0." Davey might look to avoid some of football's oldest cliches from now on, but that heavy defeat at West Bromwich Albion on the final day of last season was always an afternoon of celebration for Barnsley supporters. Three wins from the previous four games had guaranteed the club's survival when at one stage they had looked out for the count. Chairman Gordon Shepherd has backed his young manager in the transfer market with deals for seven new players this summer including a top Peruvian striker, Miguel Mostto. Hungarian international striker Istvan Ferenczi played a major part in the revival and will be expected to shine again. While a return to the Premiership could be a bridge too far for the Tykes at this stage, at least the club's bank balance is healthy again and there should be no need for another season of struggle. Davey said: "We needed to stay in the division last season and we needed to restructure the set-up. We did that and now we are looking to kick on and improve. "The fans showed their appreciation in the last home game when we clinched our Championship status. Hopefully, the rest is forgotten now and we can do well this season for everyone connected with the club. I hope I am proving that I was the right appointment and, hopefully, the fans from the start of the season will back me and the players and we can make Oakwell a fortress." Davey lists Everton manager David Moyes and former Scotland manager Craig Brown as among the biggest influences on his career; he spent five years as a player at Preston North End before injury brought a premature end to his career at the age of 29. Since taking the top Oakwell role, Davey has placed a major emphasis on fitness, discipline and organisation. His approach may have led to differences of opinion with some, but now, surrounded by a squad who firmly trust his judgment, the foundations are laid for future success. "This summer has been my opportunity to put my imprint on the club," he said. "When I took over, the fitness levels were not what was required for this level. We needed fitter players to play high tempo football. That is difficult to address in the middle of a programme of games because the players need rest as well. "As soon as the season had finished, we put the players on a maintenance programme that got them to a certain level. We warned them that it would be a tough pre-season for five full weeks – and it was tough but, quietly, I think they have enjoyed it." With a large group of new players on board, it can sometimes take time for things to gel. Davey took his players to Portugal for a week to help speed up that process and is confident Barnsley are faced with no greater problem than the majority of other clubs in the division. "Most clubs have signed as many players as us; it happens every summer. We have seven new players so far and we are bedding them in and integrating them into the group during the close season rather than in the season. "Although there are new faces, they are not coming from a different environment, they are coming from a football environment. A lot of them will take to it like a duck to water because football is a universal language." Apart from a Peruvian, Barnsley's summer influx of talent has included a German, a Dutchman, a Nigerian and a Welshman. "We needed a few fresh faces to be competitive this season and the board have been fantastic," said Davey. "It's their money and I'm spending it, but they trust me in the transfer market and hopefully I will repay them." Having added power, pace, and experience to his options, Davey is still guarded with predictions for the season, but is quietly confident of a noticeable improvement. "I am not going to say we are going to be in the play-offs or the top ten – but I will say we are going to be a far stronger, more competitive side to beat. We are not going to be looking over our shoulders at the relegation zone and we believe that, with the players we have brought in we are going to be much further up that table." Transfers and Prospects In: Andy Johnson (Leicester, free); Kayode Odejayi (Cheltenham, £200,000); Marciano Bruma (Sparta Rotterdam, free); Rob Kozluk (Sheffield United, free); Miguel Mostto (Cienciano, undisclosed); Dominik Werling (Sakaryaspor, free), Rohan Ricketts (Wolves, free) Out: Paul Hayes (Scnuthorpe); Neil Austin (Darlington); Daniel Nardiello (QPR, undisc); Antony Kay (Tranmere); Dale Tonge (Rotherham, free); Marc Richards (Port Vale), Paul Heckingbottom and Thomas Harban and Nathan Joynes (all to Bradford City, loan). Yorkshire Post prediction: It has been a summer of major change at Oakwell and Barnsley's sights are set on the top half of the table. Challenging the top clubs for promotion may still be a bridge too far but there should be no repeat of last season's battle against the drop. Key to success: Peruvian striker Miguel Mossto could either set the division on fire or disappear without a trace. The capture of the South American is arguably the gamble that will define Barnsley's season.
One and the same- Yorkshire Post </p> Well, amongst others. The one who predicted in the YP that we'd go down was obviously a Scum fan. No doubt in my mind.</p>
Daveys team Yes it is now his creation. This is a good, intelligent article especially as it's coming out of Leeds. Can't help having some reasonably optimistic thoughts - nothing too silly though. It is a stronger, more experienced squad. Can they play?
