Barnsley are hoping their search for a new manager will reach a conclusion this week, with Swede Poya Asbaghi again strongly linked to the role.
Swedish news outlets have reported that Asbaghi, the Sweden under 21s manager, is set to land the job. The Chronicle understands it is not as well-advanced as that but he is thought to be a person of interest.
The Reds – who are second-bottom and four points from safety after 17 games – want a new man in place by the time they visit second-placed Fulham on Saturday.
Markus Schopp was sacked three weeks ago, following a run of seven successive defeats and a 13-game winless run.
The players had most of last week off but returned to training over the weekend under caretaker Joe Laumann, who oversaw a win over Derby County and a loss to Hull City.
Although Barnsley's chief executive Khaled El-Ahmad is also Swedish, their links with Asbaghi go back further. Asbaghi, 36, had an interview in 2019 but the Reds appointed Gerhard Struber.
He was, at that time, manager of IFK Gothenburg who he had won the Swedish Cup with but they sacked him the following September. He became coach of Sweden under 21s a year ago and has them unbeaten at the top of their European Championship qualifying group. He is due to lead them in Dublin tomorrow against the Republic of Ireland, for whom Reds midfielder Will Hondermarck is in the squad.
Reports in Belgium have claimed Mechelen turned down Barnsley’s request to speak to manager Wouter Vrancken.
Meanwhile, coach Tonda Eckert has left the club. The German arrived at the start of last season to work under Gerhard Struber and stayed on under Valerien Ismael.
