Struber predicts other clubs will follow the Barnsley model

BARNSLEY HEAD coach Gerhard Struber believes that the club’s much-derided recruitment policy will be followed by many rival clubs in the post-Covid 19 world of football.

Clubs across the country, more especially in the EFL, are bracing themselves for an extended period of belt-tightening as they come to terms with new financial realities when the game returns after seeing their revenue streams decimated.

With cash in much shorter supply, strategic decisions to buy young and emerging players with future re-sale value – a model pursued by Barnsley for several seasons – will start to become in vogue, according to the Austrian.

Struber said: “Barnsley and other clubs who have a good education with younger players

GERHARD STRUBER: Barnsley chief says other clubs will copy the Reds’ transfer policy post-Covid.

have a big advantage for the future.

“Many clubs are getting good learning from the Coronavirus and I think they will change their business model.

“We have an advantage with our plan and very good talents here and we don’t need players from the outside in every transfer window to help for a good performance.

“I think many clubs will prefer a similar way like Barnsley in the future.”

Struber’s players are back in small-scale training after Championship clubs were given the green light to resume sessions on Monday.

The former Wolfsberger coach is confident that his players will adapt to the ‘new normal’ in the socially-distanced work-place ahead of a return to full contact.

He added: “I think it is a big challenge to work in groups and a low beginning and we will take it step by step to get to more intensity. It is a new one for me and a new situation.

“I think we have a good plan for technical styles and also for tactical style with athletic inputs.”