Advertisement

Karl Robinson rejects Barnsley interest as he targets Championship promotion with Charlton

Staying put | Robinson: Getty Images
Staying put | Robinson: Getty Images

Karl Robinson has ruled himself out of contention for the Barnsley job because he wants to get Charlton back into the Championship.

Barnsley are without a manager after Paul Heckingbottom left to take over at Leeds, with Robinson revealing he had been approached about taking over at Oakwell.

But with seventh-placed Charlton only two points off the playoffs with as many games in hands Addicks boss Robinson is more concerned with getting the Addicks back into the second tier than battling to keep Barnsley in the division.

“My agent phoned me saying 'listen, this is the situation', and I said 'I don't want to be on it [the shortlist]',” Robinson said.

“I don't see Barnsley for me. This is a place where I want to be. I want this club to be in the Championship - it's as simple as that.

“But we have to go to the Championship clean, with everything that's happened over the last five years gone.

“We've worked hard to put ourselves in this position and I'm not going to walk away from something when we've worked so hard over the last 12 months.”

It is not the first time Robinson has been given an opportunity to leave the Valley but with a takeover that will end Roland Duchatelet’s ownership imminent there is cause for optimism in south London.

However Robinson will have to complete much of the remainder of his promotion push without on-loan striker Stephy Mavididi, who has returned to Arsenal for treatment on a hamstring injury that is expected to sideline him for up to eight weeks.