Barrow missed out on a place in the League Two play-offs following just two wins in their final eight matches and will now face a rebuild in midfield with the news that two key players are departing this summer following the expiration of their contracts.
The club parted ways with manager Stephen Clemence in January after a run of one win in nine League Two matches, with Andy Whing taking charge.
Barrow have now spent five seasons in the fourth tier and had become play-off challengers under Pete Wild before finishing in 16th place in 2024/25.
Midfield Duo Among Top Performers
Kian Spence was arguably one of the standout players in League Two in 2023/24, having made a seamless transition from the National League to the EFL. The 24-year-old made 15 goal contributions from a central midfield but has seen his role change slightly in 2024/25.
Spence played in a more advanced role and scored five goals in 31 appearances. No player in the Barrow squad took more shots in total or per game than the former Middlesbrough man.
He also ranked highly for successful dribbles and key passes per game, highlighting his central role in the team’s attacking transitions.
His work rate was one of his standout attributes, and he topped the club’s charts for successful tackles per game.
Dean Campbell arrived in the summer of 2023 alongside Spence. The Scottish midfielder had been a regular feature for Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership before a season-long loan spell with Stevenage in 2022/23.
The 24-year-old has become a key player for Barrow in the middle, ranking first for interceptions and successful passes per game in 2024/25. Campbell ranked in the top two for both metrics in the previous campaign, in addition to scoring four goals that led directly to Barrow picking up crucial results.
Both players have been key components of this Barrow team, but the club have now made an announcement on their futures.
Barrow Confirm Pair Reject Contracts
Barrow have issued an update on X this afternoon, confirming that Spence and Campbell have rejected new contracts to search for opportunities elsewhere. There will likely be a host of parties interested in securing their signatures, and both have displayed that they may be ready to move up the pyramid.
League One may be a realistic destination; however, it cannot be ruled out that teams with ambitions of promotion from the fourth tier may be of interest to the duo.
Campbell has made appearances in the qualifying round of the Europa League during his time at Aberdeen and is arguably too good to stay at this level.
Spence has been on an upward trajectory over the last two seasons, but after a slightly underwhelming season with Barrow compared to the previous campaign, it may be best for his development to play at a club with bigger ambitions and the resources to match.
It should be expected that these two will be snapped up early in the summer transfer window as they would be shrewd signings for any side in the third and fourth tiers.
The rebuild must now begin at Barrow after losing two of their three starting midfield players.