CONOR HOURIHANE’S EXIT

I think the intention always is to give everybody time.

There’s two sides to this. The manager’s got to want to be at the club, the club have got to want the manager and both of those things have got to work.

Over time, mutually, respectfully, we got to a position where we both agreed for both parties, that it was time that we separated.

I believe the club and Conor acted at all times in a respectful way.

We’ll continue to remain in contact.

I thought he did an excellent job at putting enthusiasm and energy into the building, which is also what Daniel’s going to do as well. His work ethic was impeccable.

Hopefully, Daniel can build on some of the legacy that Conor Hourihane has left, especially with the young players.

BOBBY HASSELL’S ROLE

(The academy manager is set to take more of active role behind the scenes)

I think there are there are plenty of people with football expertise in this building and Bobby is one of them.

Bobby will become far more involved going forward on the football side in terms of decision-making.

He’s got a wealth of experience.

He’s worked with me before when he was interim sporting director.

He’s got an understanding of younger players from years of working in the academies.

He has a relationship with Daniel from the last time Daniel was here.

We’ll lean more and more on that, as we have been doing anyway, by the way.

Then there’s obviously assistant coaches.

There are sports scientists, head of medical performance, all of those living in that football world on a day-on-day basis.

So there is a lot of football expertise. It’s a joint effort for everybody involved.

SEASON TICKETS

(Speaking earlier in the week)

The numbers are very good.

They are up on last year at this stage, but in reality, about 30 per cent of the season tickets gets done in the last four days.

They’re in a really strong position so far which allows us to set those budgets around players, transfer fees, all those kind of things.

The early bird end of the season ticket window is really important.

That’s real money in the bank right there and allows you to move your budgets accordingly.

CHANGES TO THE GROUND

(Flatman confirmed plans for a fanzone at Oakwell have been shelved)

In the last two years, you’ve seen the entire hospitality suites redeveloped, and that’s to ensure that matchday revenue isn’t the only revenue at this stadium.

So our conferencing events, birthdays, weddings, etc.

We’ve really got a really good space there that generates revenue, and that revenue goes into the football club. We’ve seen the concourses redeveloped, you’ve seen the box office being redeveloped as we speak now, we’ve also done some work on the training pitches.

We’ve redeveloped a lot of the coaching area.

The floodlights are being done this summer, and there’s a solar plan, the timeline of which will be in the next 12 months, if not sooner.

We’ve got to continue to improve that infrastructure, but we’ve got to do it at a pace that does not do detriment to the football budget.

There is a Oakwell masterplan in discussion right now with all the key stakeholders.

It’s a very exciting plan for the area. But it’s one that needs further consultation with the council and the local stakeholders as well.

CHANGE OF COUNCIL

(Reform UK have replaced Labour as the main party on Barnsley Council which owns Oakwell and the surrounding land.)

“Fundamentally, it may make a difference to our plans. But within three days from being elected, they were in here, the leader and the deputy leader having conversations with me about our priorities and how we can support the council and how the council can support us. I’m waiting for feedback from them as to next steps. They gave their commitment to the importance of the football club and doing everything possible to support it.”

INTERNATIONAL BREAKS

(The Reds had three games called off due to international breaks last autumn and rearranged them for 2026 when the schedule became extremely busy)

It’s a real trade-off on the international weekends. It’s who you’re playing. It’s how many call-ups you get. And it’s what is the impact of not of playing that game. How are the other team impacted? All of that versus playing it as a Tuesday night game down the road.

The rules will change this year. The criteria for which you can call an international game off may well tighten. So that would make it less likely.

It’s something we’ll definitely look at next year. I think it’s probably been taken out of our hands, though, with the new rules.