The bookmakers again feel every other team has a better chance of promotion to the Premier League next season thanBarnsleyafter putting them at 100/1 for the title and 40/1 for promotion.
These are the longest odds, with only local rivals Doncaster Rovers the same for the title but seven pounds shorter for promotion at 33/1.
All three newly promoted teams are more fancied with Brighton 7/1 for promotion and 16/1 for the title, Southampton 9/2 and 16/1 and Peterborough- who finished bottom of the Championship, 20 points behind Barnsley when last at this level two years ago- 18/1 and 50/1! Leicester City and relegated West Ham are 7/1 joint favourites for the title and the Hammers are 2/1 just to seal an instant return to the Premier League under new boss Sam Allardyce who got Bolton out of this division via the play-offs back in 2001.
Those odds have however failed to put offBarnsley’s ultra confident new boss Keith Hill, who is hoping to model European Champions Barcelona, and less glamorously,Blackpoolin his quest to bring success to Oakwell next season.
Hill views Barca boss Pep Guardiola, along with Sir Alex Ferguson and Allardyce as his mentors in the game and hopes he can emulate his success atRochdalewith the Reds. Speaking to the Mirror he said:
“Barnsley have made it to the Premier League before, andBlackpooldid it against all the odds last year, so it can be done.
“There is no reason why we can’t repeat what Danny Wilson’s side here did 14 years ago – and getting to the top flight is our aim and ambition.”
“We are 100/1 to win the Championship next season, but we have got a fighting chance and we shall take that fight on.”