Mike Williamson is of interest to the third tier outfit ahead of their play-off date with Bolton Wanderers
Barnsley could concentrate on MK Dons head coach Mike Williamson in their pursuit of replacing Neill Collins.
Despite the fact that all parties have reached a consensus, Alan Nixon asserts via his Patreon account that Dominik Thalhammer’s planned appointment might not go through.
It’s possible that Thalhammer won’t be able to move to Oakwell because of his troubles getting a work visa.
Over a year has passed since the 53-year-old’s previous assignment, which was with the Belgian outfit Oostende.
It might be challenging for him to get a work permit to work in the UK as a result. The news of his appointment may be delayed as the League One team must now file an appeal of the application procedure.
Although Thalhammer was supposed to take over at the Tykes, if the Austrian is unable to operate legally in the UK, the third-tier team may now need to look elsewhere.
Collins was fired from the position earlier this month, despite the fact that the team was still in the running for a League One play-off spot.
With much fan dissatisfaction over recent results, the team’s form under the 40-year-old had collapsed, ending any hopes of securing automatic promotion back to the Championship. As a result, the Oakwell hierarchy attempted to make a change ahead of their final League One match of the regular season, a 1-1 draw with Northampton Town.
But with the playoffs still to come, the team decided to hire a new manager to increase their chances of making it back to the second division.
With just one game remaining in the regular season, Collins quit after just one win in his last eight games as manager. Collins had only been appointed last summer and had won 24 of his 52 games.
Barnsley may have problems appointing Thalhammer.
Williamson, who joined Stadium MK in October from National League side Gateshead after Graham Alexander was fired, has managed a fourth-place League Two result this season.
Ex-defender Williamson of Newcastle United is well-known for his appealing style of play. He has been in charge of senior football for almost five years, and tonight, his Dons team takes on Crawley Town. Williamson also has his own play-off campaign to concentrate on.
With a 1-1 draw against Northampton Town, Barnsley secured a sixth-place finish, marking the end of the regular League One season on Saturday afternoon.
The Yorkshire team will play Bolton Wanderers in a rematch of last year’s semifinal match, in which Barnsley prevailed 2-1 overall.
Ian Evatt’s team barely missed out on a top two spot by five points in 2024 after finishing fifth the previous year.
With Barnsley’s recent dismal run, many will see the Whites as the favourites going into the first leg on May 3.
The second leg will happen in Bolton on May 7.
Barnsley is rapidly running out of time to choose a manager, yet they cannot allow themselves to enter the play-offs without one.
The club will play Bolton at home in a crucial match in only five days, and there won’t be much time to rest before the second leg begins.
Williamson’s transfer might be tricky because MK Dons are also in a play-off, and the League Two team might not want to talk terms until after their promotion fight is over.
This is the worst conceivable preparation for a play-off, and if Barnsley fail to go past Bolton, they may live to regret it. It seems increasingly likely that Martin Devaney will have to continue to steady the ship going forward.
