Barnsley have begun their plans for the 2012-2013 season by confirming six pre-season friendlies, which include two big South Yorkshire derbies.
The Reds have confirmed six away matches, with one date- Saturday 28th July- left vacant as the club look to secure a home match with a Premier League outfit.
Barnsley will face the following:
July 17: Alfreton Town (7.45pm)
July 21: Rotherham United (3pm)
July 24: Stocksbridge Park Steels (7.30pm)
August 4: Doncaster Rovers (3pm)
August 7: Crewe (7.45pm)
August 11: Bradford City (3pm).
The final friendly- at Bradford comes just three days before Barnsley start competitive matches, with the first round of the Carling Cup. The first Championship game will take place on Saturday 18th August.
The Reds had provisionally pencilled in a game with Sheffield Wednesday as has happened in the previous two summers, but the Owls promotion back to the Championship this month curtailed that and Doncaster- who were relegated this season- have replaced them. The match at Rotherham on the 21st July is set to be the first match played at the Millers’ new New York Stadium. Rotherham have been playing at Sheffield’s Don Valley Stadium for the last four seasons.
Meanwhile various media outlets have linked Carlisle’s Slovakian centre half Lubomir Michalik with a move to Oakwell this summer.
The 28 year old, who spent four years at Leeds United has been an impressive part of Carlisle’s season in which they narrowly missed out of a play-off place. But the former Slovakian international is out of contract and considering his options. Most notably SKY Sports News have linked Michalik with Barnsley, Crawley and Swindon.