May 2021 (Page 11)

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Former Yeovil Town midfielder, Marc Bircham has taken on his first full-time managerial role with League of Ireland side Waterford Town.

Bircham arrived in Ireland on Thursday and will undertake a period of self isolation before joining his new side.

The Canadian international joined the Glovers in 2007, and played a little over a dozen times before ankle injuries ended his career in 2009.

Bircham has spent time coaching in America as well as taking on the QPR job in a caretaker capacity and had been on the coaching staff at Millwall.

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Darren Sarll has said it is inevitable that “players fans really like” will be leaving the club this summer.

But, the manager has said he is committed to  bringing in other talent who will go on to become fans’ favourites as he looks to build for next season.

He said: “We are starting to build for the future and next season, Scott (Priestnall), the Yeovil Town chairman) and I are talking all the time about what we want this team to look like and how we want it to represent the fans. We built a lovely connection with our fans last season and we want to rebuild that with players that we want to have that and with players that we bring in. Players that they really like will be leaving, that is inevitable, and some players that they like  (who are currently not at the club) will be coming in. We need to add (new players) to bring a nice, new energy to the group and we need to keep some of what we’ve got because they are brilliant people and they deserve another crack at it.”

 

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Current Yeovil Town loanee Michael Kelly and former Glovers’ star Ed Upson have both been released by Bristol Rovers, the club has announced.

The pair are among 12 players who have been released following the  expiry of their contracts this summer.

Full-back Kelly has been on loan at Huish Park since the end of January making 17 appearances this season, while Upson has been a regular starter as the Gas were relegated to League Two. He made 33 appearances, scoring once.

 

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There appears to be no sign of a return from exile for Yeovil Town winger Gabby Rogers.

The possible return to the fold of the young midfielder has been a topic for discussion among supporters with an injury crisis crippling the first-team.

Gabby Rogers in action for Yeovil Town.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Rogers has not featured since coming off the bench for extra-time at the end of the 3-2 FA Cup defeat at Stockport County back in November and Sarll said at the time he had “pretty much requested to be on the transfer list.”

Asked about him again ahead of the weekend’s home game with King’s Lynn, Sarll said: “Nothing has changed from the first time around. I will only play players who want to play for the football club, it does not matter who it is. We want to produce a group of people that are highly committed to the club. Gabby was (committed to the club) but things change.”

The possible return was a topic for discussion on the Gloverscast the other week and in a recent edition of the Gloversblog, read here .

*Editors note: this question has been omitted from the Official coverage of the pre-match press conference

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Yeovil Town have appealed the red card shown to Alex Bradley in Tuesday night’s 2-0 defeat at Aldershot Town and are hopeful he will return for this weekend’s visit from King’s Lynn.

Bradley was dismissed for a tackle from behind on Shots’ striker Harry Panayiotou after 55 minutes of the game in Hampshire, but boss Darren Sarll is hopeful the three-match ban will be overturned on appeal.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Thursday, Sarll said: “We have appealed. We think the video footage is good enough to exonerate him. There was a similar tackle from an Aldershot player midway through the second half which is probably worse than Alex’s, so we will be saying that and hopefully  we can get Alex in on Saturday.”

You can see for yourself with the match highlights – see here – on the club’s YouTube channel – the moment is at 2 minutes and 55 seconds in.

Sarll also revealed that some of his long list of injuries could return for the match at Huish Park.

He was without Luke Wilkinson, Max Hunt, Albi Skendi, Carl Dickinson, Jimmy Smith, Matt Worthington, Rhys Murphy and long-term absentee Josh Staunton at Aldershot.

But, the boss revealed that he was hopeful that a number of those missing in midweek would be available.

Sarll said: “I don’t think in an ideal world we would have them this weekend, but there are players that have been very forceful in saying they recognise the situation and want to help. They are putting themselves at risk for the benefit of the team, myself and the football club, so I am hopeful on a couple of them. I would rather not name them in case I set myself up, but I am hoping that some of them will be available where it is cameo roles or from the start.”

Midfielder Lawson D’Ath, who has been missing since January, made a welcome return as a second-half substitute at Aldershot and there was another appearance for under-18s midfielder, Toby Stephens.

On the subject of poor refereeing decisions, Sarll also revealed he had received an apology from the FA for mistake of not giving a penalty for a foul on striker Reuben Reid in the 3-0 home defeat to Halifax Town.

With the Glovers’ trailing 1-0 in the 83rd minute, Reid was pulled back in the box by visiting defender Niall Maher, but referee Elliot Swallow waved the appeals away and the visitors broke away to get a second moments later.

Sarll said: “I’ve had another email today saying (the referee) got it wrong again with Reuben’s penalty against Halifax. That stops them getting the second goal and  potentially brings us back to 1-1. I guess there are 14 points of mistakes we’ve not got from referees this season.”

One person who won’t be surprised is Halifax manager Pete Wild who admitted after the game that it was “definitely a pen.”

 

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Yeovil Town boss Darren Sarll has revealed the club couldn’t say no to QPR on the deal offered for Alfie Lloyd.

The academy product’s move to QPR was confirmed earlier this week after he had a successful trial at the London club.

Speaking to the press today, Sarll said: “It was a brilliant deal, we could not say no. It is the best deal in terms of monetary value that the club has done for 4-5 years. It is a good deal up front and a good deal if Alfie is successful and it is a good deal for Alfie in terms of his football career and education and that is what he needs. We are really pleased for him because he is a brilliant guy and we are delighted for him.”

Sarll stressed the importance of good finances at the club, given the uncertainty COVID has caused, and touched on the deals we’ve done this season, presumably the selling of Myles Hippolyte, Courtney Duffus and Lloyd.

“Everyone knows we are in COVID financial times and money is at a premium, so we needed to do it. We have sold three players and we have brought in what is moving to hundreds of thousands of pounds in remuneration, so that is all good. That will only create a stronger foundation and that is what is going to have to happen. That is like any business. What we have seen over the years, so many mistakes with young players who spend ages out on loan and then get released. We are in a position next season where every penny has to be spent very wisely and next season if players can’t contribute to the first team, we can’t have them with us.”

Sarll praised his young signings, Tom Knowles, Alex Bradley and Max Hunt. He talked about the character they bring to the squad, and how the experiences of this season will only improve them.

He said: “The experience young players are getting on and off the pitch has been huge, but we have to get through this difficult time.
They will only be better for these life and football experiences. I am really excited about players like Tom Knowles, Alex Bradley, Max Hunt, they are going to be brilliant players for the club.

“We need to make sure we keep that character because the team that fell out of the League was devoid of character in my opinion. We need to keep that in senior players, but there are also young players out there with that same character that you need. Look at Tom Knowles, his strength of character means he’s as tough as old boots, brave as a lion, takes the ball, gets kicked and gives it back.”

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In: On This Day

May 13th 2010

As we start to see clubs up and down the EFL and in the National League begin to announce their released and retained lists, today’s On This Day highlights just how much player turnover occurs in a single summer of contract discussions.

In the summer of 2010, Terry Skiverton had just guided the Glovers to another mid-table finish in League One.
We finished in 15th, had a wonderful FA Cup moment when we faced off against Southampton at St Mary’s and got to enjoy players like Alex McCarthy (on loan from Reading), Steven Caulker and Ryan Mason (on loan from Tottenham).

But as with any summer, came the contract negotiations.

Skivo and the Glovers had no fewer than 11 players who were in need of having their future sorting, and it was on this day that decisions were made.

The Glovers released; former Bristol City man Scott Murray, Aidan Downs, Andre McCollin and ‘keeper Richard Martin were all told their future’s lied elsewhere.

Former Spurs defender Danny Hutchins was placed on the transfer list, whilst contract discussions were held with a number of other key players.

Dean Bowditch, top scorer from the previous campaign, as well as Nathan Smith would sign their new contracts, but others, namly Terrell Forbes and Gavin Tomlin would opt against an extended stay in Somerset and returned to clubs nearer to their home in Somerset.

Jean Paul Kalala chose to stay whilst Keiran Murtagh headed for Wycombe.

This was the summer we signed Ed Upson, Luke Ayling permanently and Paul Huntington – so what do you think, did Skivo do decent business in the summer of 2010?

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If you are feeling brave, the highlights of our 2-0 defeat at Aldershot Town on Tuesday night are now available on the club’s YouTube channel.

If you spool forward to 2 minutes, 55 seconds in, you’ll see the sending-off of midfielder Alex Bradley – what do you think? Red card? Just a yellow? Referee banned for three matches?

Give us your opinion on the Gloverscast Twitter, here: https://twitter.com/gloverscast

 

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Former Yeovil Town loan defender Morgan Williams has been released by his parent club, Coventry City.

Williams, 21, has spent two loans spells at Huish Park, playing three times last season before returning in October 2020 for another short stint.

Speaking to YTFC.net upon resigning Williams, Manager Darren Sarll said at the time;

“I immediately requested (when needing a defender) Morgan because of his playing traits. He is very different to what we have, and he made a huge impression on us all the last time he was on loan.

“He knows the group, to some extent, and understands what it is to play for Yeovil, the expectations that are placed on the players and the need to win games on a weekly basis.

“It’s great to have him back and I hope he has a great experience with us again.”

Everyone at the Gloverscast wishes Morgan Williams all the best in his search for a new club.