‘We will fight for everyone who has a big heart for this club’
THROUGHOUT HIS short yet eventful time at Barnsley, Gerhard Struber’s regular use of the phrase ‘my boys’ conveys the depth of feeling he has quickly developed towards his players.
Should his side prevail tonight and other results somehow go their way to secure one of the most astounding acts of escapology in recent times, then the biggest game of his coaching career will also be his proudest.
The scenes will eclipse those special on-pitch moments he shared with those in red on Sunday after Patrick Schmidt’s dramatic winner saw the club live to fight another day.
Alongside the duty of care for his ‘boys’, Struber will also be conscious of its huge significance for the club if they achieve their cherished outcome of Championship safety.
Like scores of other EFL clubs, Covid-19 has had some significant financial ramifications for Barnsley.
Hit by a loss of between £600,000 to £700,000 in matchday revenue and now adjusting to new realities, the impact of the club relinquishing their secondtier status would be severe.
Back in May, chief executive officer Dane Murphy said the club were bracing themselves for significant losses which could ‘severely impact’ upon their future forecasts.
Murphy warned that while Barnsley would operate viably in June, July would be a time when the club would be ‘closer to the edge’ as he referred to it.
Close to the edge is a perfect phrase ahead of tonight’s game at Griffin Park, when Barnsley are scrapping for Championship life in more ways than one.
Head coach Struber said: “We are fighting for everyone who has a big heart for the club. This is my responsibility.
“It is the biggest game in my coaching career. It is a tough situation for everyone, but I can
handle that and I trust my team. We have a big challenge.
“To stay in the league is a big goal. When I took over the team in November, it was a very difficult situation to create a new game style and team spirit and leaders in the team and bring the right new players.
“There were many topics and now we see the team in the right direction and the leadership is on a good level.”
Barnsley may still be up against it in their quest to stave off the drop against a promotionchasing Brentford side with the best home form in the division, but the fact they are still in the game on the final day is something that many would have taken in those dark days of autumn, pre-Struber.
The Reds won one league game in 16 before he arrived, while on February 11, they were also effectively ten points from safety after a home loss to Birmingham.
Based purely on results since Struber came in mid-November, Barnsley would be sitting comfortably in mid-table.
If the Reds go down, his stock among supporters – and those who know football – should not be overly diminished.
It is a time when he has given everything he can, as have his players, who he has wrung every last drop out of.
But when Struber heads home to reflect on his future later this week and recharge his batteries, he is desperate for it be as a Championship head coach.
He added: “This is the longest season in my life and my energy level also goes a little down. I am ready for my holidays and to see my family (afterwards). For everyone, this is a special (unusual) situation without family and personal contact.
“Right now, I have a good job on Wednesday and after that, I will go home to Salzburg and have time with my family.”
Whatever happens tonight, Struber has earned his break and the respect of a fanbase.
Last six games: Brentford WWWWWL; Barnsley WLDDLW.
Referee: R Jones (Merseyside).
Last game: Brentford 0 Barnsley 0, December 16, 2017; Championship.