STRUBER SWAPS BARNSLEY FOR LIFE AS BOSS IN THE BIG APPLE

BARNSLEY have announced head coach Gerhard Struber has left to take charge of Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls. Austrian Struber, aged 43, who has previously coached at Red Bull Salzburg, masterminded the club’s escape from Championship relegation trouble last season. Adam Murray will take caretaker charge.

“I must start by thanking Gerhard for the last 11 months. Tasked with maintaining the club’s Championship status, he took a difficult position at Oakwell last November,” said chief executive Dane Murphy. “Despite the seven-point deficit and COVID-19, his belief never wavered and the night at Brentford will live long in the memory of all supporters.

“As much as we wanted Gerhard to remain at Oakwell we were not in a position to deny him this opportunity with a buy-out clause in his contract and his connection within the Red Bull set-up. “Looking toward the immediate future, the recruitment process for a replacement has already begun and we will update supporters when appropriate. In the interim, Adam Murray will take charge of first team matters.

“This club has good people across numerous departments that will do their utmost to assist Adam.” New York Red Bulls, eight points off the play-offs in the Eastern Conference, sacked head coach Chris Armas last month.

Struber spent just 11 months at Oakwell after signing a twoand-a-half-year deal to replace German Daniel Stendel in November last year. Barnsley were bottom of the table when Struber took over and after winning their last two matches survived relegation due to Wigan’s 12-point deduction for going into administration. Struber took previous club Wolfsberger into the Europa League and is reunited with the Red Bull franchise having coached various youth levels at Salzburg.

“I am looking forward to getting to know my new team, hopefully very soon,” said Struber after being announced by New York. “We want to pursue very ambitious goals together and develop steadily.”