Jose Morais Departs Oakwell
Barnsley manager Jose Morais has left his role following the clubs relegation from the Sky Bet Championship.
The former Real Madrid and Chelsea assistant managed just three wins from his 15 games during his tenure after replacing Paul Heckingbottom in February, following his departure to join Leeds United. He activated a clause in his contract that allowed him to ability to leave if relegation occurred, in which was confirmed in a 4-1 defeat to Derby County on the final day.
Assistant coaches Dimas Teixeira and Joao Cunha have also left Oakwell.
Upon his departure, chief executive Gauthier Ganaye told BBC Radio Sheffield, "Today is a sad day, we will discuss later what has gone wrong during the season."
"When you are the head of the organisation you have to take the responsibility, and today I take my part of the responsibility in what's happening. My responsibility now is to make sure that we're going to roll up our sleeves, work hard and come back stronger next season."
In April, Morais stated he believed relegation would not deem his reign at the club a failure quoting, "I think that I am getting the best out of them and I think that I am doing important things with them. I believe in things that I built and what I can build, and I believe in organisation and stability."
The search for a new manager begins for the club, as does life back in League One. The Tykes have struggled to consolidate in the Championship in the last few years, bouncing between the second and third tier.
"It is important we find the right candidate that will lead us to a stable future," Ganaye said. "Two relegations in four seasons shows we have been ill-prepared in the second tier. Next season, we need to find the right strategy to earn our way back and then look to consolidate and build towards a future and not the present."
However, Ganaye is adamant that promotion won't be expected next season. "League One is an incredibly difficult league with some great clubs. We won't expect an easy ride and promotion is certainly not a must. We need to reassess."
Bookmakers have already placed odds on who the next boss is to be. Currently, Paul Heckingbottom is favourite to return to Oakwell following a poor spell as Leeds boss. Heckingbottom left Barnsley in February to take the vacant role at Elland Road, however won just four games from a possible 16, as the club slumped to a 13th-placed finish.
Heckingbottom was sacked after just four months in charge by United at the end of the season.