Barnsley promise to refund fans after weekend hammering

The South Yorkshire club, who sacked manager Danny Wilson ans assistant Chris Hutchings on Thursday, said in a brief statement that it shared the fans' "distress" at their side's latest display.

Caretaker-boss Mark Burton admitted after lowly Crawley had secured their second win in 19 matches that "three or four of the players threw in the towel" as Barnsley slipped to within four points of the relegation zone.

The statement read: "All at Barnsley FC share the fans distress at the team's performance at Crawley (on Saturday).

"The sentiments expressed by Mark Burton after the game were entirely appropriate. As a consequence the Board has decided that it will refund the ticket price for each Barnsley FC fan attending the game at Crawley."

A hat-trick from striker Izale McLeod and further goals from Sonny Bradley and Marvin Elliott sent Barnsley crashing to their seventh successive away defeat.

Burton, placed in temporary charge along with Paul Heckingbottom, said after the game he was "absolutely gutted" for the 420 travelling fans and promised changes for the home game against Crewe next Saturday.

Burton said: "We collapsed in the second half and didn't show enough character. Obviously we are all devastated, including the staff.

"The players made mistakes, it was an absolute horror show and I'm devastated for the fans .Three or four of the players threw in the towel.

"I'm a Barnsley lad and I'm up for the fight but this hurts more than anything."

Substitute Kane Hemmings scored Barnsley's only goal to pull it back to 3-1, but the Reds have taken only 13 points from their last 14 league games.

Burton added: "Crawley smelt blood and all credit to them. There will be a positive reaction next Saturday, I can assure you.

"We lose and win together and I really feel for the fans as performances need to be better. No place is safe and I hope the players are feeling embarrassed."