"Having to live off scraps" - Barnsley FC financial issues highlighted | OneFootball

FLW's Tykes fan pundit wants to see changes to the distribution of money in English football

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Barnsley's finances have been identified as the biggest issue at the club at this moment in time, with the onus put on the distribution of money throughout the English football pyramid as a factor that is holding the Tykes back from progression.

Barnsley have struggled to return to their former glory since a brief stint in the Premier League in the late 1990s, and the club have been stuck bouncing between League One and the Championship in the last ten years.

The Tykes are into their third successive campaign in the third tier, and while they have finished in the play-offs in the last two seasons, and look set for another crack at promotion under boss Darrell Clarke this term, the situation off the pitch looks to have worsened as the years have gone on.

Fan pundit highlights poor club finances as pressing Barnsley issue

Earlier this year, Barnsley Football Club Ltd's accounts, filed with Companies House, revealed that they suffered a pre-tax loss of £4m in the year ending May 31, 2023, which was actually an improvement when compared to the £7m lost in 2021/22.

The bigger concern, however, was that the club's turnover was reduced to £9.54m from £15m the previous year, attributed to the 'reduction in EFL distributions and Premier League solidarity income' due to their relegation from the Championship in 2022 by Insider Media.

The Tykes may well be trying to win promotion back to the second tier, but they have only been able to spend modest fees on new players compared to the likes of Birmingham City and Wrexham, which will understandably annoy supporters who want to see their club play at a higher level.

The fees spent in the Premier League by clubs on single players often dwarf what a club like Barnsley would spend over multiple transfer windows, and FLW's Tykes fan pundit, Andy Symcox, believes that the distribution of finances throughout the leagues needs to change to benefit the lesser teams, after we asked him for the biggest issue facing his club right now.

“For me, the biggest issue facing Barnsley at this moment is one of finance, along with many other clubs, particularly in the lower leagues," Andy told FLW.

“We ourselves try to remain on an even keel, and not overspend, hoping for promotion and pushing the boat out too far.

“But our owners are having to inject money, usually via a share issue, I believe, to keep us afloat and viable.

“The owners are also providing good offers from time to time, with a free ticket for season ticket holders to try and encourage more fans through the turnstiles. Such initiatives are to be praised.

“I also understand that there are plans for a dedicated fanzone, which we have seen work exceptionally well at other grounds, such as Fleetwood Town. That would be a great benefit.

“Externally, however, as I have said, there are many clubs who are struggling financially. Some through overstretching their resources, but some through, in my view, a poor distribution of the money coming into football from TV rights, and the like.

“There is a growing difference between the haves and the have-nots, and that is to the detriment, not just of Barnsley and other lower-league teams, but football as a whole. That needs to be addressed.

“This all started when the Premier League was first formed, and it has certainly not improved with the Premier League getting the lion’s share of the money, and the clubs in the Championship and the two lower divisions seemingly having to live off scraps."

The distribution of money could be about to change for Barnsley

The Premier League has been under huge pressure over the last few years to reach an agreement on a so-called 'New Deal' for a fairer distribution of money across the EFL.

Last year, the government said the current distribution of money by the top flight was "not sufficient", as a £4bn gap between the turnover of Premier League clubs and Championship clubs was highlighted as a real issue.

Disagreements between the two parties have meant that no such deal is yet to come to fruition, but there is seemingly an increased likelihood that an agreement could be reached soon after legislation was recently introduced for the creation of an independent football regulator, which is more likely to make a fairer deal for lower-league clubs.

Sky News recently revealed that a meeting of the top flight's shareholders in November is expected to include a discussion on a range of new offers to be made to the rest of the professional football pyramid.

However, fears are still prevalent over further delays and a lack of interest in the EFL from the Premier League, after Peterborough United director of football Barry Fry last month claimed that lower clubs could be "destroyed" by their top-flight counterparts if nothing changes soon.

It is clear that Barnsley are not alone in the angst surrounding their future as a lower-league team, and while the club may well be heading in the right direction off the pitch, things need to change off it for them to become more competitive against the powerhouses of English football in the long-term.