Arthur's at Barnsley

Last updated : 06 October 2005 By Tony Scholes

Arthur has been out of the game since being sacked at Queens Park Rangers in March of this year after what the London club called a series of breaches of club discipline. He previously signed for them from the Clarets in February 2004 on a contract that should have seen him there until the end of this season.

That move followed a previous loan deal earlier in the 2003/04 season and ironically that was after a reserve game played at Barnsley’s Oakwell ground when the Clarets were hammered 6-0 by Barnsley.

Arthur was substituted at half time with Burnley 5-0 down following incidents in the dressing room and the day after the then reserve team coach Ronnie Jepson blamed the Ivory Coast born defender for the defeat.

Jepson fumed, “I am asking young boys to run around and show a great attitude and commitment for Burnley Football Club, but Arthur is simply not doing that.

“One hundred per cent commitment should be the minimum requirement for senior professionals, who should be helping the young lads along, but Arthur is nowhere near putting it in at the moment and if he is going to play for Burnley Football Club, he has to start giving it a go."

It was the beginning of the end for Arthur at Burnley, his crown well and truly slipped, and now after an equally difficult time at Loftus Road he has the chance to resurrect his career with Barnsley.