Scott Golbourne has suggested that he may have had to leave Barnsley this summer if they had gone down.
The left-back was one of the Reds' star performers before a knee injury ended his season in February. He watched from the sidelines as the club secured their safety on the final day at Huddersfield but celebrated on the pitch after the game and was relieved that he did not return to League One after moving from Exeter to Barnsley last year.
Asked if he would have left the Reds had they gone down, Bristolian Golbourne told the Chronicle: "It would have been a very tough decision to make. I like playing for this football club but I would want to stay in the Championshi"I didn't want to be playing in League One next season because I fought to hard to get out of there and back to the Championship. But thankfully we stayed up and I don't have a decision to make.
"It is nice to have the stability of another year on my contract and to know where I am. My family are settled up north and I wouldn't want to have to pull my son out of school. I hope we can keep the core of the team for next season. The team spirit is amazing after what we have been through and we are already off to a good start for next season without even playing any football yet."
Golbourne said it was very frustrating to be injured during the crucial run-in. The 25-year-old said:
"It was difficult not being a part of it and I didn't like not having any effect on my future and the club's future.
"The last game was difficult to watch even though it was an incredible occasion and actually a very good match. It was a massive triumph in the end for both clubs. The second half of the season was an emotional ride. There were ups and downs.
"The lads had some great results and some big setbacks. There were times when we drew but everyone else won and we slipped down the table. But staying up is an incredible achievement."
Despite his injury, Golbourne regards the season as a good one from a personal perspective. His tally of 31 league starts was only beaten by Luke Steele, Martin Cranie, Scott Wiseman and Jacob Mellis. He had an operation in February and is now back running and well on course to be fully fit by the time pre-season training starts on June 24.
He said: "Everything has gone according to plan with no setbacks. The knee is stronger than it was before I got injured and I am probably in the best shape I have ever been in."
