Barnsley axe Poya Asbaghi two days after relegation and comments on working environment

Barnsley have announced the departure of head coach Poya Asbaghi just two days after their relegation from the Championship was confirmed.

The Reds' 2-1 defeat at Huddersfield Town on Friday night sees them drop into League One next term and Asbaghi, who was only hired in November, has now exited Oakwell by mutual consent. The 36-year-old oversaw just five wins in his 36 matches having replaced Markus Schopp, who was axed after just 15 games in the hotseat.

In a statement confirming the departure of both Asbaghi and assistant boss Ferran Sibila, Barnsley's CEO Khaled El-Ahmad said: “On behalf of Barnsley Football Club, I would like to thank both Poya and Ferran for their hard work and professionalism during a difficult time. Our search for a new coach has already started and an announcement will follow once that process is concluded.”

Asbaghi, whose previous role saw him coach Sweden's under-21s, was in a contemplative mood in the wake of relegation on Friday.

When asked what needed to change next season, he made reference to the kind of working environment that he wants at a club. "Everybody has demands on what they want and the kind of environment they want to work in," he said in the bowels of the John Smith's Stadium, less than an hour after Barnsley's demotion was confirmed.

"There are demands on me as a coach. There will be time now to reflect for everyone and you will have a clear answer from me soon (on future). But it has to be an environment where it mirrors yourself. As a player you want to be in a team where you know players around you have the same attitude. The time will come soon where we reflect and ask 'do we get that from each other?'

"If we do then good, if we don't - we will see. There are people in