Barnsley FC supporters are enduring yet another season of abject disappointment. Sitting 10th in League One, seven points adrift of the play-offs, it appears all but impossible now that the Reds will have the purpose needed to bother any of the contenders for a place in the Championship. Fan sentiment towards the Chairman, Board, Head Coach, CEO, and Director of Football is increasingly negative, with many questioning the direction in which the club is heading.
Among the most discussed topics is the role and objectives of Neerav Parekh, Barnsley’s Chairman. Some supporters acknowledge the financial contributions made by Parekh and the board, while others question whether there is a clear strategy for sustainable success. With criticism mounting over recent player recruitment and overall club management, now is an opportune moment to assess the background, wealth, and objectives of Barnsley’s majority owner.
Current Barnsley Football Club Limited Board
- Neerav Parekh (Chairman)
- James Cryne (Director)
- Jean Cryne (Director)
- Julie Anne Quay (Director)
- Jon Flatman (Chief Executive Officer)
- Mladen Sormaz (Director of Football)
- Robert Zuk (Finance Director)
Who is Neerav Parekh?
Neerav Parekh is an Indian businessman whose family has deep financial roots through Pidilite Industries, a multinational adhesives and chemicals giant. Originally founded by Balvant Parekh, in 1959. Pidilite is best known for its flagship product, Fevicol, a household name in India, recognised for its strong adhesive quality and memorable advertising campaigns.
A Lifelong Passion for Business & Football
Despite his family's industrial success, Neerav Parekh has pursued independent business ventures while maintaining his passion for football. Parekh, who has been an avid follower of European football since his youth, saw an opportunity to invest in Barnsley FC in 2017. Initially a minority shareholder, he gained greater control in 2022, playing a key role in the departure of former co-owners Paul Conway and Chien Lee, whose tenure was widely criticised by supporters.
Parekh has since described his role at Barnsley as a long-term project rather than a short-term investment. He believes in building sustainable success, although some fans remain sceptical given the club’s stagnation in League One.
“I am not an owner... more of a custodian.” – Neerav Parekh, Yorkshire Post (July 2022)
Wealth & Recent Investments
Parekh’s financial stability is well established, with his family controlling significant wealth through their business empire. Recently, he made headlines for purchasing a 10,441 sq ft duplex in Worli, Mumbai, part of the Naman Xana project by Naman Group. The property, valued at Rs 105 crore (£9.9 million), includes six parking spaces and incurred Rs 6.30 crore (£600,000) in stamp duty. To fund part of this transaction, Parekh sold 1 lakh shares of Pidilite Industries (0.02%) at Rs 3,303 per share (£31.10 per share), as reported by India.com (December 14, 2024)
While Parekh’s personal wealth is significant, supporters are more concerned about how this translates into footballing success. The key question remains: Is the current boardroom structure capable of implementing a winning strategy?
Restructuring the Club: The Appointments of Jon Flatman & Mladen Sormaz
When Parekh took on the role of Chairman, he recognised that the club’s previous structure placed too much responsibility on a single individual. Historically, one person managed both footballing operations and commercial affairs, which Parekh believed was unsustainable for a club with promotion ambitions.
To address this, he implemented a dual-leadership model, appointing Jon Flatman as CEO to handle off-the-field operations and Mladen Sormaz as Director of Football to oversee recruitment and football strategy.
“We needed to separate the footballing side from the commercial side. It was too much of a role for one person.” – Neerav Parekh, Yorkshire Post (December 2023)
Jon Flatman: Has He Delivered as CEO?
Flatman was appointed as Chief Revenue Officer in early 2023 before transitioning into the full-time CEO role in March 2024. His remit includes growing the club’s revenue streams, managing finances, and improving fan engagement.
While Flatman has overseen many changes such as support within the administration function relating to football and revamping the medical department at Oakwell, Barnsley’s financial model remains precarious, with an annual shortfall that requires constant injections from the board. Questions persist about whether enough commercial growth has been achieved under his tenure to relieve the club’s dependence on player sales.
“Any business losing £8m has to make tough decisions. We are putting every penny we can onto the field.” – Jon Flatman, Barnsley Chronicle (October 2024)
Mladen Sormaz: The Director of Football Under Scrutiny
Sormaz was appointed as Barnsley’s first-ever Sporting Director in February 2024, arriving with a strong background in football analytics from Leicester City and 777 Partners. His role is to lead player recruitment, manage contract negotiations, and establish a consistent playing philosophy across all levels of the club.
However, Barnsley’s recruitment under Sormaz has been a major point of contention. While the club continues to prioritise data-driven signings, many fans feel the squad lacks proven League One experience to sustain a serious promotion push.
“We think Davis [Keillor-Dunn] and Stephen [Humphrys] will replace last season’s goals, but it was a tough market.” – Mladen Sormaz, Barnsley Chronicle (October 2024)
“You can always get one or two more bodies in. But we had to think about who is going to contribute and who we might have forgotten about because they are injured who will come back.” – Mladen Sormaz, Barnsley Chronicle (February 2024)
While Sormaz’s model could yield long-term success, the immediate results have been underwhelming, raising concerns about whether the current strategy aligns with the club’s ambitions.
Spectemur Agendo
With season ticket renewals looming, Parekh and his leadership team must demonstrate a clear plan for improvement, both on and off the pitch. If results don’t improve, scrutiny will intensify over whether Flatman and Sormaz were the right appointments to execute Parekh’s vision.
Only time will tell whether Neerav Parekh’s custodianship will lead Barnsley FC back to the Championship, or whether mounting discontent will force yet another shift in the club’s leadership.
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