They have been labelled as relegation favourites in the forthcoming Championship campaign but having made four signings – Darren Moore, Hugo Colace, El Haimour and Iain Hulme – last week alone, it appears that the mood around Oakwell is one of expectation.

Barnsley enjoyed an FA cup run last season that took them all the way to the semi-finals after knocking out Liverpool and Chelsea in previous rounds.

However, manager Simon Davey is not happy with just a cup run this time and is demanding better performances in the league to help them to continue their year-on-year development plan.

Davey believes that everything is in place at Barnsley to achieve big things and points to the fact that he has been linked with the number two job at Manchester United – following Carlos Queiroz's appointment as Portugal team boss – as evidence of this.

Of the current rumours, Davey said: "I'm happy here, obviously it's great to be linked with a club with the size and stature of Manchester United, but there is still a job to do here.

"We set out to improve year-on-year and I am not going to leave with unfinished business.

"Each year has been an improvement on the last and I believe that this year will be no different.

"The development of the club is clear for everyone to see, the fact that my name has even come up in connection with Manchester United shows that we must be doing something right.

"I have signed a contract and I will honour that – I am determined to finish what we have started at Barnsley."

The club's ambition is also becoming more evident with the money being spent on bringing players to Oakwell. Everything looks to be in place for a play-off charge next season and Davey has identified the league as the priority.

He said: "Obviously our aim is to win every match, be it in the cup or the league.

"Having said that, I now feel that it is time to kick on as a club. We had the cup success last season and this season we want to play consistently well and pick up good results in the league.

"Despite what everyone else says, we are happy with what is happening at Oakwell.

"All the staff are doing their jobs well and the club is in a good position."

Davey sees veteran central defender Moore as "a born winner" and believes he can still do a decent job at the age of 34.

Of Moore, who has made 484 appearances for his various clubs and who signed from Derby, Davey said: "You know what you're getting with Darren. If there is one word you could put after Darren's name it would be winner.

"He is exactly the type of player whom you need to push your club forward. The type of player that will offer invaluable experience both on the training pitch and on the first team pitch on a Saturday."

Another new signing is Argentinian central midfielder Colace, a player who captained his national under-20 team.

In Colace, Barnsley have captured a player who can play in the centre of midfield and add extra cover for his defence.

Davey said: "He can play. You don't captain your country at any level if you're not a good player.

"He will add balance to the team. At the minute we have a few guys playing in midfield who like to get forward and create chances but we don't have anyone who will play an anchor role in front of the defence.

"We have also brought in another young lad, El Haimour, who can play both in left midfield and defence.

"he can play as a left-back, but I have brought him in to play, primarily, as a left midfielder.

"Again he will add balance to the team. last year we had players who played on the right hand side and offered a lot there but he will add flair to the left side – something I felt we missed a lot last year.

"He is also a very direct player, so we are hoping he can get at defenders and put people under pressure."

Despite being the relegation favourites Davey says this will not affect the way the Tykes play.

He added: "We are used to that now. Every year we are put down and people talk about us being relegated.

"But everyone is happy with what is happening at the club and we are focused on doing what we want to do and ignoring any pressure put on us with rumours and predictions."

Ends