Bristol Rovers’ first League One home opponents charged with multiple breaches of EFL regulations

Bristol Rovers’ League One rivals Barnsley have been charged with multiple breaches by the English Football League regarding the ownership of the club by former directors Paul Conway and Chien Lee.

A consortium led by Lee completed a takeover of Barnsley in 2017 but the pair stepped down at the end of the 2021-22 campaign as the Tykes were relegated from the Championship. The charges relate to a lack of clarity over the club’s ownerhsip.

Barnsley have been charged with “allowing individuals to acquire a position of control without prior clearance from the EFL” while other charges relate to an alleged failure to provide “accurate” information to the EFL concerning ownership with the club also accussed of failing to act with “utmost good faith.”

The Reds have 14 days to respond to the charges but swiftly issued a statement to reveal they initiated the investigation after an internal review.

It read: “The charges announced by the EFL today are the result of an investigation initiated by the club following an internal review into the shareholdings of former directors Paul Conway and Chien Lee.

“After bringing the issue to the attention of the EFL, the club has fully cooperated with the investigation at every stage and will continue to do so, as appropriate.

“The steps taken by the club to instigate and then ensure a thorough investigation into the issue underline Barnsley FC’s commitment to compliance with the EFL’s regulations. The club will await the EFL’s sanctioning decision and will comment further in due course.”

The charges provide further distractions for the club ahead of the start of the 2023-24 League One campaign. The Tykes have already had a managerial change following Michael Duff’s departure for Swansea City, as they kick off their season at home to Port Vale on August 5 before making the trip to Bristol to face Rovers on August 12.