Friday 15 September 2017 10:36, UK
Barnsley are to be taken over by a consortium involving Billy Beane, the man behind the 'Moneyball' concept, according to Sky sources.
Sky Sports News understands the £20m deal is headed by Chinese billionaire Chien Lee and American businessman Paul Conway.
It is also understood the takeover of the Sky Bet Championship club, who face Aston Villa live on Sky Sports Football on Saturday, will be completed next week and Beane will have a seat on the board.
Beane rose prominence in baseball with the Oakland Athletics by using statistics to identify undervalued or disregarded players - now widely known as the 'Moneyball' format.
Despite a low budget, the 55-year-old turned the A's into a competitive force in the MLB and was later played by Brad Pitt in the 2011 film "Moneyball".
Lee has been trying to buy an English Premier League club since last year and had previously held talks with Hull and Middlesbrough - both now of the Championship.
Current Barnsley owner Patrick Cryne has terminal cancer and told supporters on Tuesday he does not expect to live until the end of the season.
Cryne stepped down from day-to-day duties last year after being diagnosed with bowel cancer and announced in March he was "officially terminally ill".
