CAULEY Woodrow has not ruled out playing in League One for Barnsley next season, saying: ‘at the minute, my future is completely here.’
The 27-year-old Reds captain has one year left on his contract and, as a proven Championship goal-scorer despite a difficult current season, might be expected by some to be sold as the club looks to offset a £7-8million loss due to relegation.
But Woodrow told the Chronicle: “I am still a Barnsley player.
“I am focused on playing here.
“I have been here four years. I am not going to say I want to leave.
“I will give everything I have for the football club while I am here and my future, at the minute, is completely here.
“I have played in League One before, I am not saying I don’t want to do it again. I had a really successful year there with Barnsley.
“I am not thinking about anything other than the last games of the season, getting fit over the summer and then pre-season.”
Woodrow added: “We have players who have played a couple of years in the Championship and, if we can keep the group together and perform well, then we have a chance of coming back up.”
Woodrow scored four goals this season before an ankle injury in December, which needed surgery, kept him out until last week. He said: “It was the worst injury I have had.
“I wouldn’t say, if I was fit, we would be out of this situation. I was a big part of the team until December and we still weren’t winning.
“I was still around the lads during the four months out and hoped I could get back and help us stay up, but it wasn’t to be.
“I have been relegated before but I was only a part of it at Fulham for ten games.
“At this moment of my career, having been at the club a long while, it’s definitely the worst season and the worst feeling.”
Asked what has gone wrong after last season’s fifth-placed finish, Woodrow said: “Last year we won games, this year we didn’t – there are no secrets.
“It’s a similar squad to last season but that just shows that, if you don’t perform as individuals and a group, it doesn’t matter what players you have, you will be in trouble. Last year players played well and we did well as a unit but we haven’t this year.
“It’s been on the cards for a while and now it’s official. It’s very disappointing. It’s been a very disappointing season from start to finish. There are no surprises that we are relegated.
“We were praying and hoping to get some wins but it just didn’t happen. There are lots of factors but I speak for myself and the team when I say we just haven’t performed well enough.”
Barnsley are the Championship’s lowest scorers. Woodrow, who has scored 53 goals for the club in 155 games, said: “The whole season, we haven’t had enough threat, not been clinical enough or scored enough goals. You can’t achieve anything if you are like that.”
