Barnsley are reported to be in talks with EFL clubs about moving from their Oakwell stadium, and the decision has not gone down well with the council.
The league organisation are yet to receive a request from the Tykes about playing matches away from Oakwell, but it’s claimed there is an ongoing row over the purchase of the historic ground.
There is the view that the Championship outfit are looking at playing elsewhere, with two stadiums based in Lancashire in mind.
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This decision could be to ramp up the pressure on both Barnsley council and the club’s former owners, the Cryne family, each of whom own a 50 per cent share of the stadium.
The Daily Mail’s article suggests that an ‘insider has suggested the stadium purchase dilemma is a smokescreen and that threatening to play games at a different club would be more likely a play to reduce rent fees and secure investment in the ground from the local authority’.
A high controversial move away from Oakwell would need the green light from the EFL board, with no such permission requested as of yet.
MP and Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, Dan Jarvis, said he was ‘deeply concerned’ when finding more out on the situation. ‘Barnsley FC has been the beating heart of our community and town centre for over 130 years,’ he added.
‘Oakwell is our home; it’s where we play and it’s where we must stay.’ Jarvis added that he would do ‘everything I can’ to keep the club at its spiritual home.
‘It is of the utmost importance that these matters are resolved as quickly and amicably as possible,’ he said. ‘This distraction is last thing we need as we begin the 2020/21 Championship campaign.’
Jarvis’s comments were echoed at the town hall, where Sir Steve Houghton CBE, leader of Barnsley Council, released a statement in which he said the authority was ‘shocked and dismayed’ at the ‘potential relocation of Barnsley Football Club’.
Leader of Barnsley Council, councillor Sir Steve Houghton, 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 negotiations 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.”
Barnsley are co-owned by Chien Lee, a Chinese businessman along with his United States associate Paul Conway. The majority shareholders are left frustrated with their attempts to buy the stadium, although the council insist there have been no negotiations between the two.
The Cryne family, who also own 20 per cent of the club as well as the 50% in the stadium, have taken legal action against the current owners over £2.75m which they haven’t been paid following the 2017 sale of the club.
Barnsley have declined to comment on the matter. The Tykes are next at Oakwell on September 26 against Coventry City, who ironically are playing their home matches at Birmingham City following a row with the landlords of the Ricoh Arena.
Statement from Cryne family re Oakwell reports: “The Cryne family would like to clarify that contrary to recent speculation they are fully committed to the agreement to sell their 50% stake in Oakwell to BFC Investment Company, the HK consortium that owns Barnsley FC”
Fans reacted to reports that Barnsley are in talks with EFL clubs about moving from Oakwell…
Trying to bluff the Crynes saying they’ll move away. Fucking tearing the club apart. Conway needs to fuk off to Lancashire and leave us to it
— Goldy (@eaststandtyke) September 14, 2020
They are playing a bluffing game, trying to achieve their goal thru a series of threats and pressure tactics.
If it ever came to be that we actually did move, which I don’t think for a second would actually happen, the club would die.
— udrivebarnsley (@udrivebarnsley) September 15, 2020
Get this bunch of money making ####### out of our football club
— Wayne. Brown (@WayneBr43851421) September 15, 2020
wtf are they upto ? dont even want to think about that
— whitEyred (@3divred) September 15, 2020
Can fuck right off they can. I ain’t trekking to Lancashire to watch Barnsley.
— Lucy Dawn (@LucyDawn89) September 14, 2020
What a shower of shite this board really is
— commoner (@revink62) September 15, 2020
They can fuck the fuck off and then fuck off some more.
— Jimmy Viz Esq. (@jimmy_viz) September 14, 2020
If board fuck this all up again and move Barnsley away from oakwell then conway Chein lee and rest of board should all be given a public hanging
— .:./charlie\.:. (@CG25BFC) September 15, 2020
I know it’s just to put pressure on the council and the Crynes, but you should never joke or use the hallowed turf of oakwell as a bargaining chip, Chein Lee out ! Conway out !
— V (@BarnsleyMV) September 15, 2020
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