Barnsley FC Weekly Round-Up: Keogh’s Clipboard, DKD’s Suitors & Marsh’s Emotional Exit

If you thought the end of the season meant peace and quiet, you clearly haven’t followed Barnsley for long. This week? A coaching addition from the past, our standout star being eyed up elsewhere, a stirring farewell from a local lad, and a young midfielder making his mark. The rebuild isn’t coming. It’s already started.

---

Keogh Returns – Clipboard in Hand

Richard Keogh, the experienced defender who once made life difficult for Barnsley, is set to join Conor Hourihane’s staff as assistant head coach. It’s a sensible, if not particularly headline-grabbing, move. Keogh brings bags of Football League nous and leadership, which might help a youthful squad in need of both.

Hourihane clearly wants people he trusts — and who won’t need Google Maps to find Oakwell.

📌 Source: Yorkshire Post

---

DKD Drawing Admirers

Davis Keillor-Dunn might not be long for South Yorkshire. With QPR, Oxford and Wrexham all reportedly sniffing around, it looks like Barnsley’s player of the season has made more than just local headlines.

He’s got a year left on his deal, which means one thing in Barnsley-speak: sell now or lose for free. The club says it’s “under no pressure to sell,” which is usually followed by the exact opposite.

📌 Source: Yorkshire Post

---

Sormaz Hints at Overhaul

Mladen Sormaz was back in front of the press this week, and thankfully not just to talk data dashboards. He acknowledged that the squad has hit its “shelf life,” hinting at major changes ahead this summer.

There was also the now-familiar line about avoiding “emotional decisions.” Fans might argue the only thing missing this season was emotion — or at least visible fight. If Conor’s getting a clean slate, Sormaz has to back it properly.

📌 Source: Yorkshire Post

---

Bland Determined to Stay in the Frame

Jonathan Bland might’ve started the season playing for Peterborough Sports, but he ended it assisting Davis Keillor-Dunn at Reading and earning big praise from the gaffer.

His honesty about the team’s lack of bite, his versatility across midfield and defence, and his hunger to learn from Hourihane all point to a player who gets it. Bland doesn’t just want to make up the numbers — he wants to raise the bar for academy graduates.

📌 Source: Barnsley Chronicle

---

Marsh Says Goodbye — and Means It

Aiden Marsh’s departure from Oakwell hit a nerve this week. A boyhood Red from Monk Bretton, he was told by Hourihane that his time at the club had come to an end. The emotional fallout? Raw.

Marsh spoke with maturity and sadness, vowing to use this moment as fuel — just like former Red Jordan Clark did before reaching the Premier League. He’s got unfinished business in football, and you’d be daft not to root for him.

📌 Source: Barnsley Chronicle

---

Final Whistle: Between Goodbyes and Beginnings

This was a week of contrasts — nostalgia and new plans. Marsh’s goodbye reminded us what this club can mean to the locals. Bland’s emergence hints at what’s possible when we back youth properly. DKD’s situation and Sormaz’s words point to bigger changes ahead.

And with Keogh stepping into the dugout, Hourihane's project feels like it's got structure — not just soundbites.

But this time, talk must lead to action. Because Barnsley fans don’t need another “transition season” sold as a masterplan. They need belief — built on evidence.