By Red Army
May 11 2017

  So it’s now official that both Josh Scowen and Marley Watkins will be leaving Oakwell to explore other options.  

It was the worst kept secret in the world that neither would sign contracts but when the announcement was made it was gutting to most Barnsley fans still.

I for one would like to wish both players every success in their future careers and also thank them for the terrific service they have given the club over this fantastic period in the clubs history. Particularly Scowen who I definitely think is good enough for most if not all Championship clubs.

If the January sales didn’t signal the end of an era than the departure of these two certainly does. Paul Heckingbottom has a big rebuilding job in the summer and I fear that it will be impossible to replicate the success of the previous lower league signings who have stepped up to Championship level effortlessly.

The way the club deals with contracts needs looking at and I believe the club should look to begin negotiations with 18 months left on any contract of any player who they see as a first team regular or who may have a potential sell on value.

Of the other departures, it is no surprise to see Aidy White and Ryan Williams not offered contracts. Both had potential to be first team regulars but their injury problems meant that they were just not worth the wages paid to them.

So how many players do we need in the summer when you take in to account the contracted players we have left? Well my opinion is a minimum of 10 possibly 12:

• Another goalkeeper who can genuinely compete with Adam Davies for the number one spot.

• Two possibly three full backs with Yiadom our only first team full back left.

• Another centre half who can keep us solid in the event that Roberts or MacDonald are injured or suspended.

• Two central midfield players as we are now down to Moncur and Mowatt.

• Two wingers as we are now down to Hammill and Hedges

• And two possibly three strikers with only Bradshaw and Payne as recognised first teamers.

It is unlikely that we would be able to get James and Kent again. James I thought was excellent whilst on loan and Kent was getting better and better towards the end of the season and I think next season in the Championship he would realise his potential.

I would like to see Janko back for one of the full back spots but I don’t know how likely that is. If his wages are out of our price range then I’ve spotted two full backs in the lower leagues who I think could make the step up to the Championship.

MK Dons player of the season George Williams and George Smith, both of whom we should have kept in the first place.

Since Hourihane’s departure in January, we have certainly missed a midfielder who can put the ball in the back of the net.

Someone else who I would consider signing is another former player Luke Berry who has scored for fun for Cambridge this season all be it in League two.

We do have a buy back option in his contract from when we sold him back to Cambridge so it may be worth the gamble given his record this season.

Other than discussing former players, I really don’t know who is out there for the reds to sign but what I do know is that Paul Heckingbottom has a big summer ahead of him and I think survival can be the only target next season given the players that have left the club unless we go out and spend big which just isn’t the Barnsley way.