Barnsley FC boss admits he was upset to lose Brad Potts to Preston North End

Barnsley head coach Daniel Stendel confessed the decision to sell midfielder Brad Potts was out of his hands.
Brad Potts of Barnsley during the Sky Bet Championship match between Burton Albion and Barnsley at Pirelli Stadium on October 31, 2017 in Burton-upon-Trent, England.  (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)Brad Potts of Barnsley during the Sky Bet Championship match between Burton Albion and Barnsley at Pirelli Stadium on October 31, 2017 in Burton-upon-Trent, England.  (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Brad Potts of Barnsley during the Sky Bet Championship match between Burton Albion and Barnsley at Pirelli Stadium on October 31, 2017 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Potts was sold to Preston on Thursday for a fee of over £1.5million as the Reds' January transfer window got off to a disappointing start.

The former Blackpool man has been a key player in the Reds' impressive first half of the season and Stendel knows he will be missed at Oakwell.

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'It's not my decision, I like how he played and I think he is a very good football player and also a very good person,' the German coach said.

'He is a loss for our team on the pitch and off it. I am very disappointed that he left the club but I can only wish him all the best at his new team.

'We called on Friday and we talked but for us it is not the best decision.'

Asked whether the money from the sale will be reinvested into his squad, he replied: 'You best ask Gauthier (Ganaye, chief executive).'

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The Reds did not miss Potts too much in their first game without him as they went down to a heartbreaking 1-0 FA Cup defeat at Burnley.

They looked set to earn a replay until Chris Wood struck an injury-time penalty to send the Premier League team through.

Stendel was impressed with his side, who felt they performed better than their League One status suggested.

'In the cup sometimes this is possible,' Stendel said. 'We played good, we played better than a team who is in League One.

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'Burnley weren't so good and we had chances to win the game or get a replay. But we are out and now we concentrate on League One.'

After a hectic run of fixtures over the last six weeks, which has seen Barnsley compete in two cup competitions alongside a gruelling League One calendar, the Reds can now firmly focus on getting back to the Championship.

The promotion drive continues with the visit of Bradford on Saturday before games with AFC Wimbledon, Rochdale and Oxford '“ all teams who currently reside in the bottom seven of the division.