Barnet

Barnet boss Dean Brennan has called on the club's board to allow him to beef up the squad if they are to sustain a challenge for automatic promotion from League Two.

Brennan was speaking after a 3-1 defeat at home by Swindon Town on Tuesday, in which they named only five of a permitted seven substitutes.

The Bees sit second in the table, but when asked if a top-three finish was the aim, Brennan said: "We're going to need more backing from upstairs if that's going to happen.

"We're one of the smallest clubs in the division - us and Accrington - and we need more support."

The defeat by Swindon ended Barnet's 18-match unbeaten league run, which dated back to March.

And Brennan believes they will need more strength in depth if they are to mount a promotion challenge.

"Today we've had four outfield subs and we can name six," he told BBC Radio London.

"I've got a young kid [goalkeeper Anthony Haralambous] on the bench who is 17. That's an issue for us and something we've got to rectify."

Brennan praised Swindon striker Aaron Drinan, who scored twice, and their goalkeeper Connor Ripley, but said his players let themselves down.

"We missed a lot of chances and we were caught on the counter attack," he said.

"Did we cause our own downfall? Yes, we did, especially at 1-0 [down]. We had four or five amazing chances to make it 1-1, and when that doesn't happen, and they make it two or three on the counter again, you're going to lose football matches.

"They were brilliant. Full credit to Ripley in goal, I thought he was outstanding, and Drinan was the killer at the top end.

"I think the players let themselves down and let me down."

Image source, Getty Images

Barnet striker Jack Maskell has been handed a three-game ban by the FA for violent conduct in Saturday's League Two victory at Bristol Rovers.

The incident involving the 22-year-old substitute happened in the 86th minute but was not seen by match officials at the time.

It was caught on camera, and Maskell subsequently admitted the FA charge. He will be unavailable for the Bees' forthcoming fixtures against Tranmere, Swindon and Oldham.

Maskell was signed from Conference North side Darlington in the summer where he scored 14 goals in 2025-26.

He has yet to start a league match for Barnet, making seven appearances from the bench.

Barnet boss Dean Brennan revealed he had "come for" Zac Williams at half-time in the game at Bristol Rovers on Saturday - before the defender's long-range strike set them on their way to victory.

The Bees were a goal down at the break but Adam Senior's equaliser on 79 minutes and a red card for Rovers' Tommy Leigh gave the visitors momentum.

And it was Williams who put them ahead, latching on to Jack Maskell's knock down and firing a 25-yard, left-footed shot into the net, via the underside of the crossbar.

"I was screaming not to shoot," Brennan told BBC Radio London.

"I was thinking just keep the pressure on them but he's hit an absolute beauty.

"I had come for Zach at half-time, I was frustrated with him. I said to him he needs to do better, he needs to do more.

"He's a little bit of a worrier, the kid. He worries a little bit about different things.

"He knows [Nikola] Tavares is back, but it doesn't mean he's not going to play. We took out [Romoney] Crichlow and we put him left-centre back.

"He did a great job for us. He was brilliant second half and wow, what a goal."

Kabongo Tshimanga's stoppage-time strike completed a 3-1 win for Barnet, who are now unbeaten in 17 league games, dating back to a home defeat by Newport County in March.

On-loan midfielder Jake Reeves believes League Two leaders Barnet have the ingredients to challenge for promotion this season.

The 33-year-old has gone up from the fourth tier on three occasions during his career - twice with parent club AFC Wimbledon and once with Stevenage.

"There are many different ways to do it," he told BBC Radio London.

"The common denominators of those promotion-winning sides were hard work and having each age group - you need youth, middle lads and experienced ones there. You have to have a nice blend.

"I feel like when it gets tough, the experienced boys really show up. When it's going really well, the young boys are feeding off that energy because maybe they haven't done it before.

"So those two aspects [are important] and obviously you need a manager {Dean Brennan] you respect and trust, and we've got that as well.

"I think we've got a very good formula to really give it a good go."

Graham Alexander to Preston North End, Robbie Savage to Peterborough? It's a big week for managerial movements in the EFL.

Two high-flying managers in League Two join Aaron Paul and Jobi McAnuff to analyse and debate the latest talking points.

Bristol Rovers' Steve Evans is fresh from celebrating a new club record in the supporters' bar, while table-topping Barnet's Dean Brennan reveals all on his regular arguments with the owner, his love for Irish breakfasts and how the Bees have risen back up.

The team discuss Alexander's move from Bradford to Deepdale, what Savage's arrival would do for Peterborough and Danny Ings' instant impact for Wycombe.

Listen to the full episode above or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Image source, Shutterstock

Boreham Wood have signed defender Will Wright from League Two side Barnet on a three-year deal.

Wright, 29, only joined the Bees in July but made just one start and five substitute appearances.

He has played 80 times in League Two for Swindon Town, Crawley Town and Gillingham, and 135 times in the National League with Dagenham & Redbridge.

Wright now returns to the fifth tier after Boreham Wood agreed an undisclosed fee with Barnet for the centre-back.

Barnet manager Dean Brennan praised the London club's "togetherness" after celebrating five years in charge.

Brennan was appointed on 20 September 2021 and has steered the Bees from the National League back into the Football League.

They are currently top of League Two and unbeaten in their opening seven matches this season.

The 46-year-old is the fifth longest-serving manager in English football behind Mikel Arteta (Arsenal), Nigel Clough (Mansfield), Andy Woodman (Bromley) and Phil Parkinson (Wrexham).

"We've had a lot of fun in the past five years or so," Brennan told BBC Radio London.

"Won a lot of games, had a lot of success, and long may that continue.

"Every player, every supporter, everybody that has come across Barnet Football Club in a positive way - I want to thank them for their support.

"We have togetherness at the club and without togetherness you can't have success. We've got the recipe and we don't want to ruin that recipe. We want to just keep stirring the pot."

Former Wealdstone FC boss Brennan arrived at the Beehive as head of football with former Leeds United winger Harry Kewell then in the dugout.

Kewell was sacked after seven matches as manager and Brennan initially replaced him initially on an interim basis before being handed the permanent role in February 2022.

"I always go back to the story in my first season, when we were 5-0 down at half-time away to Dagenham in a mad 7-3 game," Brennan said.

"The Kleanthous family supported me at that time. The chairman [Anthony Kleanthous] just told me 'get to the summer, keep them working hard, try to go undefeated for a bit'.

"That's the support you need through the tough times. That's when you see the real people.

"My players are all prepared to raise the bar every year and go to the line all the time. At this moment in time they are in sensational form.

"We're scoring lots of goals, we're on the front foot, we're attack-minded, we've got pace, we're dynamic - all the things that other players don't want to play against."

Listen to the full Dean Brennan interview with BBC Radio London on BBC Sounds.

Boss Dean Brennan says the international break has come at the wrong time for his unbeaten Barnet side.

The Bees beat Fleetwood Town 3-1 on Saturday to remain top of League Two with 15 points after seven games.

But their forthcoming matches with Crawley Town and York City have been postponed due to international call-ups.

"Our accumulated points from seven games we're really happy with," Brennan told BBC Radio London.

"We've got a break now [for] international duty, which we could really do without. It's a bit of a kick in the teeth - but that's football, that's how far we've come.

"We've got four internationals and that's never happened here, ever.

"For a small club with a big heart and good people, we've come a long way in a short space of time and long may that continue."

Image source, Shutterstock

Barnet midfielder Brandon Comley has been called up for Montserrat's squad for their upcoming Concacaf Nations League games.

The 30-year-old, who joined the Bees in the summer after leaving Walsall, will hope to add to his 24 caps for the Caribbean nation.

Montserrat are due to face Turks and Caicos Islands on 23 September before back-to-back games home and away against the British Virgin Islands on 26 September and 1 October.

They will then host Turks and Caicos Islands in their final game on 6 October.

Barnet's games with Crawley Town and York City have been postponed over the international window, with the Bees having had three call-ups.