What Barnsley FC's new board said on a variety of issues at their press conference this week.
CHIEN LEE AND PAUL CONWAY’S RESPONSE TO BEING REMOVED FROM THE BOARD
Chairman Neerav Parekh said: “They were emailed to inform them of the board changes but there has been no response.
“Legally there is no requirement for the largest shareholder to be on the board. They have the rights associated with shareholders but they are not on the board and the board make the decisions.”
WILL PAREKH TRY TO BUY CHIEN LEE’S SHARES?
Parekh: “Chien needs to be a seller, I don’t know if he is or not. If the shareholding stays as it is, the board will stay as it is.”
WHAT WILL THE £1MILLION EQUITY INVESTED BY THE BOARD BE USED FOR?
Parekh: “Everything that typically revenue coming into the club is used for – paying wages, recruiting players over the summer, the general running costs.
“Part of the reason is so we don’t have to take the first offer that comes in for our players this summer.”
DID CONWAY AND LEE CONTRIBUTE TO THE £1 MILLION?
Parekh: “Everyone has equal right to participate in that.
“If any shareholder doesn’t take up their right to participate, their shareholding will be diluted because the vast majority will, from the sense we are getting.”
CONNECTION TO CONWAY AND LEE’S OTHER EUROPEAN CLUBS
Parekh: “There is no connection now. We will treat their clubs like we treat any other club. If a transfer makes sense, we will do it.
“But there will be nothing to differentiate Esbjerg from any other club.”
THE CLUB’S FINANCIAL PLIGHT AFTER RELEGATION
Parekh: “We are very concerned. There is a financial hit and no way to sugarcoat it or get around it.
“If there is a further need for capital, the board will make a call and see if we need to put it in.
“But I don’t want to hide from the fact that we have to sell players to bridge the gap.”
THE £750,000 PAID TO THE CRYNES FOR THE 2017 SALE BY THE CLUB, RATHER THAN CONWAY’S GROUP
Parekh: “When the club was sold, the new investors put fresh money in and paid Patrick’s loans off. £750,000 came out of the club as the accounts show. The initial contract stated it would be paid off from BFC investment company or a subsidiary.”
WILL THERE BE REDUNDANCIES AT OAKWELL?
Parekh: “I would hope not.
“We are looking at the structure of the employees and reallocating roles as far as we can to avoid redundancies. We are trying to make sure there are none. Given the cost of living crisis right now, we would be loath to let people go.’
THE ACADEMY
Parekh: “It is hugely important. It has an unbelievable history of turning out talent and it’s not going anywhere.”
THE WEST STAND
Khaled El-Ahmad: “We will do the reviews we need to do, keep a good dialogue with the council.
“At this point there is no thought of closing it.”
NOT BRINGING BACK HERBIE KANE IN JANUARY FROM LOAN AT OXFORD
Parekh: “Everyone gets better when they are out on loan.
“Whether it would have changed our fortunes I don’t know but, in my eyes, it was a mistake.”
El-Ahmad added: “He is injured but we hope he will be fit for the start of the season.
“Then it is up to the new head coach, like with all the loan players.”
