CONOR Hourihane is ‘absolutely OK’ with Barnsley potentially selling star players this summer and believes they can replaced with quality.
The Reds finished 12th, on 61 points, after completing their League One season with a 4-2 win at Reading on Saturday.
The players are now expected to have at least five weeks off before returning in June, although there will be ‘check-in days’ for them to come into the club.
The 2025/26 season is due to start on the weekend of August 1-3, with the fixtures announced on June 26.
The Reds are expected to have a training camp away from Oakwell, most likely in the UK, while playing a series of friendlies which are being finalised.
Barnsley are expected to sell some of their players this summer.
The likes of Davis Keillor-Dunn, Adam Phillips and Luca Connell could be of interest to other clubs.
They are all contracted until at least 2027 when club options are included.
Chairman Neerav Parekh previously said the Reds would ‘absolutely have to’ sell players to offset the forecast losses of up to £10million next season.
Head coach Hourihane told the Chronicle: “We’re factoring that in.
“There is a lot of dialogue in terms of what the club has to do.
“I am absolutely OK with that.
“There are some brilliant, brilliant players in terms of availability out there to fill the void of whoever leaves.
“It’s my job then to put a decent squad together and put us in a better place.”
Hourihane has already said he has spoken to many players, including former team-mates, about joining the Reds who are hoping to make a quick start to the squad rebuild.
The head coach said: “There are a lot of conversations going on.
“We have ear-marked a few players we want to get through the door so fingers crossed that will be sooner rather than later.”
Keillor-Dunn finished as the league’s third top-scorer with 18 league goals, while adding seven assists.
Hourihane told the Chronicle: “I really hope that he will stay. He’s massive for me, and how I want to play.
“We play with high wingers running in behind, he’s the one that comes into little pockets and links play.
“He is a clever clever footballer.
“Fingers crossed but he’s had a great season and picked up all the awards which he fully deserves.
“Let’s see what happens over the pre-season.”
Phillips was dropped to the bench for Saturday’s game, replaced by Jonathan Bland. Phillips – who has netted at least ten goals from midfield in each of the last three seasons – has had an inconsistent campaign and was dropped by Hourihane in March for missing a team meeting. Asked what Phillips’ future looked like under him, the head coach told the Chronicle: “Time will tell.
“I just felt the midfield needed a change. I wanted to see Blandy in the middle of the pitch and Jon (Russell) has been in great form. That was the decision-making for that.”
The futures of Kacper Lopata and Kyran Lofthouse are unclear after they both performed well on loan to Ross County and Burton Albion respectively.
Other contracted players are expected to be moved on as Hourihane looks to totally revamp the squad this summer.
Hourihane is also looking to bring in at least one new coach as he looks to freshen up his backroom staff.
Martin Devaney left the club last month while Jon Stead and goalkeeper coach Matt Gilks are thought to be contracted only until the summer.
Stead has been linked with a move to Bristol Rovers who appointed former Reds boss Darrell Clarke this week.
Tom Harban has been promoted to the first team coaching staff under Hourihane with academy coach Rory McArdle also helping out.
