Reds Chief Executive Ben Mansford today reveals how he plans to attract Barnsley's 8,000 lapsed fans back to Oakwell.
Mansford will make a series of visits to pubs across the borough to engage with 'armchair fans' while the club is asking supporters to vote for a new crest as part of the 'brand refresh' Mansford wants to implement.
The former football agent, who replaced Don Rowing at Oakwell in the summer, told the Chronicle that the club could increase its playing budget if regular attendances were higher.
He said: "When I first started looking at averages attendances, I saw that they were about 18,000 in the season after relegation from the Premier League whereas now they're around the 10,000 mark.
"For the vast majority of people, they might have stopped attending for economic reasons but I want to get out and about in town and be truly visible, firstly to our current supporters to thank them for staying with us but also to the 8,000 or so who have stopped coming.
"There are many armchair fans outside of the city centre who still read the Chronicle and they might occasionally check into the club's website. I want to get into their environment and they might explain to me why they've fallen out with Barnsley Football Club.
"To remain competitive in the Championship, we need to grow our attendances. By getting out into the town and talking to people, I hope that we can bring a few back."
