Reds owner Cryne eyeing return to Premier

"I think we have to keep believing we can get there," he told a meeting of Barnsley Supporters Trust last night.

"We're railing against the odds but if we don't do that we might as well join the other fans who sit in their armchairs and watch television supporting the big brand clubs and grow fat."

Cryne and chairman Gordon Shepherd were guest speakers at the meeting at Oakwell where it was disclosed that although the next accounts to be published will show a small profit, this summer's substantial investment in players has been under-written by Cryne.

"We didn't want another season like last so we loosened the purse strings," Cryne explained.

The board sanctioned 14 signings in the summer and Cryne admitted he still believed Barnsley could, one day, return to the top flight.

He opposed the overseas take-overs of major clubs. "Foreign investors could threaten the survival of football. They want their investments protected through no relegation from the Premier League. They will kill the game," he warned.

Summer bargain signing Dennis Souza's arrival at Oakwell was part payback for the way the club handled Richard Kell a couple of season's ago, it was also revealed.

Midfielder Kell's career with Barnsley was dogged by injury to the extent that he even put pen to paper while on crutches with a broken leg. But throughout an unsuccessful stay with the club, Kell's contract was honoured to the letter.

Kell's agent in return recommended Barnsley when defender Souza was looking to break into English football after his spell as Belgian club, Charleroi.

Shepherd explained to last night's meeting of Barnsley Supporters' Trust: "In the summer the agent called me and said he had a centre half he thought we might like.

"I told him manager Simon Davey would have to see him and he said he'd pay the player's flight over if we'd put him up for a fortnight and gave him a trial. He came over and the rest is history."

"The agent was paying us back because we'd always treated him properly."