The Austrian coach has shared his feelings on what he described as a ‘disaster’
Dominik Thalhammer, an Austrian coach, has offered his opinions on the collapsed agreement between himself and Barnsley to take over as the team’s manager.
With one game left in the 2023–24 regular season, the Tykes decided to break things off with Neil Collins. Although the squad was virtually assured of a play-off position, Collins was fired as a result of a sharp drop in the team’s performance.
On the last day of the season, Barnsley managed to guarantee their place in the top six, and they will now take on Bolton Wanderers in the play-off semi-finals for the second consecutive year.
Journalist Alan Nixon said that Barnsley swiftly decided that Thalhammer was their best option.
The initial idea was for him to arrive for the last match against Northampton Town, but the club needed to make an appeal to get him past the door because he wouldn’t be granted immediate entry into the nation.
In addition, Nixon’s initial report warned that if he didn’t meet the conditions, he might not get the job at all. Less than a week later, it became clear that the Austrian’s contract had fallen through because he hadn’t been given a work permit.
Before the problems were revealed, Thalhammer had flown to the Yorkshire town to reach an agreement, and it soon became evident that a resolution was not going to be reached.
Martin Devaney, the interim manager, is leading Barnsley going into the two legs of their matchup with Bolton.
His response to the story has finally surfaced.
Reaction of Dominik Thalhammer to the disastrous Barnsley relocation
The former boss of LASK, Oostende, and Cercle Brugge is astonished and dismayed by the failure of the agreement to take over as manager of the Tykes.
After arriving back home, the Austrian informed Nixon that he found the scenario puzzling.
“I can confirm I will not join Barnsley FC because of the (permit) disaster,” stated Thalhammer. It would have been a perfect fit for me. It’s obviously quite disappointing. It’s not something I can alter.
They stated that there would have been no need for the exception panel. It’s randomness to me.”
The 53-year-old also published a mysterious message on Instagram. He snapped a picture of a caption on a Football League World article that alluded to a possible problem with his work authorization.
Barnsley’s manager situation is a complete mess.
Before choosing a candidate, you would have assumed that the club would have checked all the boxes, crossed all the t’s, dotted all the i’s, etc., but that was clearly not the case.
They might receive some of that bounce from having a new manager and fresh ideas under Devaney’s direction, but not nearly as much as they could have with the manager of the future—whether or not Thalhammer was involved—in the building for the play-offs.
They now have to deal with choosing who they believe is the correct man this time as they go into a summer that is already unpredictable due to their play-off status.
When this occurs, it’s hardly a sign of an exceptionally well-run organisation.
