Reds stalwart Bobby Hassell will be granted a testimonial next year to reward him for ten years service for the club, however it is not yet certain whether he will still be a Barnsley player in 2013-2014.
Testimonial matches are usually granted to players after ten years with a club- a rare feat these days and even rarer at Oakwell- but “Sir Bobby” will hit the milestone in 2014 after joining on a free transfer from Mansfield back in 2004.
The club have today confirmed they will give the 32 year old a testimonial game but he may not get a new contract with all deals for first team players on hold until the end of the season with the Reds currently fighting to avoid relegation to League One. Of the players who see their deals expire this summer, only Reuben Noble-Lazarus has been offered a new deal with the club keen to tie up their young players.
Manager David Flitcroft told The Star:
“The club wants to reward Bobby with a benefit year, which I think is a great idea. It’s not often you get a player who has played nearly ten years for one club.
“Unfortunately the club won’t be offering any new contracts at the moment, but hopefully nearer the end of the season that will have changed.
“The club have decided that Reuben Noble-Lazarus will get a new contract, though, which is in keeping with it’s policy to keep our emerging young players. We want to keep John Stones and the likes of Danny Rose and Paul Digby.”
Hassell is currently the Reds longest serving player since David Watson who spent nine years at Oakwell between 1992 and 2001.