"Disaster" - Dominik Thalhammer reacts to collapsed Barnsley FC deal | OneFootball

Austrian coach Dominik Thalhammer has shared his thoughts on the deal that fell through between him and Barnsley to become the club's next manager.

The Tykes made the decision to part ways with Neil Collins with just one game remaining in the 2023/24 regular season. The side were almost guaranteed a play-off spot, but a steep decline in form and performances of Collins' team meant that he got the sack.

Barnsley went on to secure their spot in the top six on the final day of the season, and they will now face Bolton Wanderers in the play-off semi-finals for the second year running.

Thalhammer was quickly identified by Barnsley as their preferred option, as was reported by journalist Alan Nixon.

The original plan was for him to come in for the last game against Northampton Town, but he wasn't going to be allowed into the country automatically, and the club needed to appeal to get him through the door.

Nixon's original report also said that he may miss out on the job entirely if he doesn't meet the right requirements, and, less than a week later, it emerged that the deal for the Austrian was off as he hadn't been granted a work permit.

Thalhammer had travelled to the Yorkshire town to agree a deal, prior to the issues coming to light, and it eventually became clear that there was not going to be a resolution.

Barnsley are heading into the two legs against Bolton with caretaker manager Martin Devaney in charge.

His reaction to the saga has now emerged.

Dominik Thalhammer's reaction to the failed Barnsley move

The former Oostende, Cercle Brugge and LASK boss is shocked and disappointed that the deal to become the manager of the Tykes collapsed.

The Austrian has returned home, and told Nixon that he has been bemused by the situation.

"I can confirm I will not join Barnsley FC because of the (permit) disaster,"said Thalhammer. "For me it would have been a very good fit. Of course it’s a big disappointment. I can’t change it.

"They said the exception panel would have been a formality. For me it’s randomness."

The 53-year-old also took to Instagram to put out a cryptic post. He took a screenshot of a Football League World article, in which the caption raised the potential issue about his work permit.

Click below to read the full FLW article on Barnsley's interest in the Austrian.

Barnsley have made a mess of their manager situation

You would have thought that the club would have ticked all the boxes, dotted all the i's, crossed all the t's etc. before settling on a candidate, but that obviously wasn't the case.

With Devaney in charge, they may get some of that bounce of having a fresh voice and new ideas, but not as much as it could have been had the manager of the future been in the building for the play-offs, regardless of whether it was Thalhammer or not.

Now they head into a summer which is already uncertain, because of their play-off status, and now they will have to contend with actually appointing who they feel is the right man this time.

It's not a sign of a fantastically well run club when this happens.