Barnsley are reportedly in ‘advanced talks’ to sign Gerhard Struber as their new manager to finally replace the departed Daniel Stendel. 

The Tykes have been on the hunt for a new manager ever since the parting of ways with former manager Daniel Stendel in early October, with Barnsley currently on a torrid winless run stretching back to the opening day when they saw off Fulham 1-0 at Oakwell.

The side sit bottom of the Championship with just nine points to their name and are five points below 21st-placed Luton Town. Since the departure of Stendel, Adam Murray has taken caretaker charge of the squad while the managerial search is underway, and has seen some somewhat unfortunate results such as draws to West Brom and Bristol City where they could have made their early domination count for wins, but didn’t.

With the international break providing the Barnsley board adequate time to line up the right replacement, they appear to be moving towards one with current Wolfsberger manager Gerhard Struber in ‘advanced talks’ with the club, according to Andy Giddings on Twitter.

Here, we take a look at one winner and one loser in this situation as Struber closes in on becoming the new Barnsley manager…

Winner: Barnsley

It’s clear that Barnsley are the winners in this situation as they are finally replacing the manager they dismissed well over a month ago, and can finally look forward to some much-needed stability this season.

Struber will become the third manager to take charge of the club after Stendel and Murray, so Barnsley will be hoping that results turn around enough that he can stay at the club long-term.

This appears to be quite a smart appointment from the Tykes, who are prizing Struber away from a side currently plying their trade in the Europa League and took a significant scalp by beating Bundesliga-topping Borussia Monchengladbach 4-0 at their ground.

Loser: Adam Murray

The role for caretaker manager always has to be taken with a pinch of salt for the man in that job because if the club has set out from the start that they wish to appoint someone new, there is nothing they can do results-wise to change their mind, especially when taking up a ‘poisoned chalice’ of a side floundering at the bottom of the league.

It would be a shame for Murray to be replaced because there have been definite positive changes to the side since he stepped in and they have certainly been unlucky not to pick up more points. The team are left performing better now than when Murray first took charge.

It is hard to blame the board for wanting a more long-term solution to the managerial position but it is hard on Murray who has clearly had little clarity over the role, by having control over the first team for more than a month.