Barnsley have today announced their retained list and of the four players out of contract they want three to lead them into the Championship.
As expected star winger Adam Hammill has been offered a new deal as have full-backs Aidan White and George Williams.
Many attribute Barnsley’s stunning revival in the second half of the season with the second coming of Hammill in November. The club were 22nd in League One and had just been knocked out of the FA Cup by non-league Altrincham when Hammill made his second debut following an impressive first stint between 2009 and 2011 and the Liverpudlian scored on his first appearance, the winner in a 2-1 Johnstones Paint Trophy success over York.
The 28 year old went on to score another eight times in 32 appearances including two absolute stunners at Wembley, helping Barnsley to pick up both the Johnstones Paint Trophy and League One Play-Off trophy and thus promotion back to the Championship.
Williams, 23, arrived from Worcester in the summer and made his debut in the 3-1 opening day defeat at Chesterfield. He was loaned straight out to National League side Barrow straight after however and it looked like he may have to wait until 2016-2017 to force his way into the Reds side. But he was given his chance in the 6-1 win over Rochdale in January and has never looked back, making another 22 appearances plus scoring his first ever senior goal- one of the most crucial of Barnsley’s season- in the 90th minute against Peterborough in April.
White arrived at Oakwell in November following his release by Rotherham and made 19 appearances however his substitute outing in the play-off first leg win over Walsall was his first in over a month following injury.
However it is not all good news from the Wembley party after Jak McCourt was informed his contract was not being renewed. The 20 year old arrived in January from Leicester but made only two outings, both as a substitute in the final day 4-1 win at Wigan and play-off second leg success at Walsall.
All five of Barnsley’s loan players Lloyd Isgrove, Josh Brownhill, Ashley Fletcher, Harry Chapman and Ivan Toney have returned to their respective clubs with Brownhill immediately signing a deal with former Reds head coach Lee Johnson at Bristol City. The Reds are still believed to be hopeful of bringing Fletcher and Isgrove back to Oakwell however, and Barnsley chairman Maurice Watkins- who used to be a director at Manchester United, Fletcher’s parent club said earlier today: “It would be fantastic to have Ashley with us in the Championship, but we will have to open up our discussions and see where we get to, I do know the people at United from my previous associations there – and that could help, you never know!"