Hecky on Yiadom and Takeover

PAUL HECKINGBOTTOM has confirmed Barnsley are in discussions with a consortium over a possible takeover of the Championship club.


Chinese billionaire Chien Lee, the majority shareholder of French club Nice, is understood to be leading the group along with US businessman Paul Conway.

It is unclear how far advanced discussions are, but manager Heckingbottom said: “I am aware of it, there is some truth to it.

“I know all about everything that is going off, but it is not my place to talk about it. My place and attention is with the team and the players.”

With the transfer window closing in 10 days, Heckingbottom’s priority is securing further additions to a squad that has taken three points from the opening four games, Mamadou Thiam having made his debut from the bench at Bramall Lane.

Andy Yiadom is still part of those plans following the breakdown of his proposed £2m move to Huddersfield Town last week, though the full-back will be out until after the international break following a medical with the Premier League outfit that revealed an undiagnosed injury.

“He failed his medical at Huddersfield,” said Heckingbottom when asked why the transfer stalled. “There is a tiny problem with his back, a little 2mm stress fracture. We wouldn’t have known about it without the medical.

“He has been playing with it, but now there has been a diagnosis we have to take him out for two weeks, re-scan him and then see where he is. Otherwise, he would have played against Sheffield United.”