Moyes' brother rescues Barnsley

Kenny Moyes, brother of the Everton manager David, was revealed last night as the "Mr Big" behind the rescue package that saved Barnsley from going out of business.

The Glasgow-based businessman arranged the deal, involving Icelandic investors, and came up with the funds that saved owner Peter Doyle from having to close down the club. Moyes stepped in last weekend after the Icelanders failed to buy another club and organised talks over the past few days which enabled the deal to go ahead.

The one-time footballer, who has a property business in his home city, has strong contacts in Iceland and his consortium has been looking round for the right club for months - with Barnsley proving the right place at the right time.

Barnsley was saved from possible extinction when the £300,000 needed to pay its wages was pledged yesterday. The troubled Second Division club had to find the money by Monday or face expulsion from the Football League.

The size of the Yorkshire club's problems were revealed during talks, which involved Peter Ridsdale's consortium at one stage, to find a new owner. Doyle had to raise the money needed for players' wages or the Oakwell team faced closure only three years after being in the Premiership.

Doyle, the town's mayor, had kept the club going with his own money since he took over, but wages have been missing for the past couple of months and the League and the Football Association set a deadline.

The Icelanders came up with the money and will also buy up Doyle's shares while leaving the club's lifelong fan in a key role and with a significant holding.

The former Stoke manager Gudjon Thordarson will be involved in the management team along with the Barnsley legend Ronnie Glavin, who is manager of Wakefield and Emley.