Barnsley may be a big name in League One, but recent history suggests they’re at risk of becoming part of the furniture.
The Reds have failed in three attempts to get out of the third tier, enduring two painful play-off exits before slumping to a drab 12th-place finish in 2024/25. The end of last season brought change: Darrell Clarke was shown the door, and club legend Conor Hourihane stepped in to steady the ship.
Yet while Hourihane’s appointment offered a nostalgic lift, it hasn’t masked the growing concerns among supporters. Fans are frustrated by the lack of transfer activity, the departure of key players, and a recruitment policy that has too often failed to deliver. On forums and social media, the mood is turning.
As pre-season begins, here’s why supporters are far from satisfied with how Barnsley’s summer is shaping up.
Vibes Over Substance So Far
Hourihane’s return to Oakwell has brought a sense of positivity—but only in theory. The former midfield maestro talks a good game, and his desire to reset the culture is admirable. He’s introduced fresh ideas, such as off-season check-ins and changes to the physical space at the club.
But football is judged by results and recruitment, and so far there’s little to show for either. He won just one of his final nine games last season, and the club is yet to make a single summer signing. For all the “vibes,” there’s a vacuum where tangible progress should be.
The transformation Hourihane is promising needs to move from rhetoric to reality—and quickly.
Lost Out on Key Targets
One of the clearest warning signs is Barnsley’s failure to win key transfer battles. The club lost out to Lincoln City for the experienced centre-back Sonny Bradley—exactly the sort of signing they need to shore up a shaky back line. With a switch to a 4-3-3 system on the horizon, defenders with pace and awareness are essential.
Bradley’s decision to join a fellow League One rival is a blow and a reflection of Barnsley’s waning pulling power. It also exposes the urgent need for multiple reinforcements in defence, especially as the Reds attempt to abandon the high-line system that failed so often last season.
Gaps in the Squad and Uncertainty on Sales
Supporters know where the holes are: both full-back positions, both wings, and at least one striker. Max Watters is the only senior option up top after Stephen Humphrys rejected a new deal and joined Bradford City. Fabio Jalo’s injury has further limited attacking choices.
The club is well stocked in midfield and at centre-back, but only on paper. With several players not in Hourihane’s plans, the need to offload is clear—but who will buy? And if big names like Davis Keillor-Dunn or Adam Phillips are sold, can Barnsley really be trusted to reinvest wisely?
There’s also the financial elephant in the room: chairman Neerav Parekh has admitted some sales are “absolutely” necessary to balance the books. Fans fear that means weakening the squad rather than building for a promotion push.
Fan Patience Wearing Thin
Seven years have passed since Barnsley waited this long into a summer without making a signing. Even in 2018, when they’d just been relegated from the Championship, the squad was already competitive. That year ended in promotion. This time, things feel very different.
The forums reflect the tension. Supporters are split between understanding that it’s early in the window and a creeping suspicion that the club lacks urgency or resources. Many believe recruitment will drag into August and depend on late outgoings. Others worry that the club’s budget means free agents and loans will again be the order of the day.
There’s also a trust deficit. Years of scattergun recruitment and short-term thinking have left fans sceptical. For all the talk of cultural change, the current silence in the transfer market is deafening.
Conclusion: Hourihane Needs Backing—and Fast
Barnsley fans aren’t angry without reason. They’ve watched a club that once flirted with Premier League football fall into mid-table mediocrity in League One. And while Hourihane’s appointment brought emotional resonance, sentiment alone doesn’t win promotion.
He needs signings. He needs clarity. And above all, he needs the board to act. Because if vibes remain the only thing Barnsley are offering this summer, don’t be surprised if frustration turns into fury—and another season of stagnation follows.
