April 2022 (Page 3)

A new Yeovil Town manager will be appointed before the end of the season with “40 or 50 applications” received for the vacant role, according to chairman Scott Priestnall.

The owner added that he would be talking to caretaker manager Charlie Lee about the job and added that applications had been received from “some big profile names” including those with Football League experience.

Speaking to a group of supporters in the Alec Stock Lounge ahead of the weekend’s 2-1 home win over Stockport County, Priestnall said: “We’ve had 40 or 50 applications for the manager’s job, we’ve had some big profile names, names that have been in the top division, managers who have worked in the EFL in the last two years have applied, managers from this league and managers who have been out of work for the last few years, as you would expect.

“I have been open with Charlie (Lee)  that I have spoken to some (of the applicants), I have not formally sat down with any at this stage but I intend to do that over the next couple of weeks, including Charlie.

“I will make a decision before the end of the season, maybe sooner.”

In a statement issued on Sunday – see more here – the chairman said he had “scheduled interviews” with a shortlist of managerial candidates.

The news came in a video filmed at the address on Saturday which we assume is the first of a number which will come out with some other parts of the talk available to read about – here.

ℹ️ An update on the managerial situation from Scott Priestnall.#YTFC ? pic.twitter.com/oyNarXV17P

— Yeovil Town F.C. (@YTFC) April 25, 2022

Priestnall also revealed that he released former boss Darren Sarll from his contract after he was approached by National League rivals Woking citing the club’s mid-table finish last season and (predicted) similar finish this season.

He described the decision as “mutual” between chairman and manager adding that “Darren and I are friends, as well as employer and employee.”

Priestnall said: “Darren had an enquiry from another club earlier in the season and approached me to ask if I was going to give him another contract and I told him we would address it at the end of the season.

“To which he said: ‘Would it be okay to look at what other options were out there?’ and I said ‘Yes’.

“When Woking came calling, I released Darren from his contract, not because I think he is a not a good manager, but I think three years in the performance over the last two seasons I thought a change in my position as chairman or owner and a change in the manager’s position as well (was necessary).

“That is why I wanted to review it at the end of the season and that is why Darren went off to Woking.”

He added: “I think Darren has done a good job. I was on the fence as to whether we continued with Darren or went in a different direction.

“I have been very open and honest with Darren about where we have been with regards rumours of takeovers and what that meant for his position and his staff’s positions.”

Asked about the takeover situation on January 21, Sarll said he knew “less than anyone” about the future of the club’s ownership.

The chairman added that he was approached by Sarll and his representatives on New Year’s Day, when Yeovil lost 2-1 at home to Torquay United, asking for a contract extension. At that point, the Glovers were tenth in the National League table, five points of the play-off places.

He said that “because of ongoing rumours” around a takeover of the club, he was unable to offer a new contract.

Priestnall added: “Darren, like he always does every year, or like he has done this year and as we had last year, went on a bad run and won one (game) in 16 and my inbox was full of people asking me to fire Darren or telling me to fire Darren.

“I would not have fired a manager during the season if I thought we had something to play for and I still believed that we had an outside chance of making the play-offs (at that point) and I wanted to see things through with Darren.”

On January 21, the club sold top-scorer Joe Quigley to promotion-chasing Chesterfield with the chairman saying the sale would “help improve cash resources” due to falling gates.

A shortlist of candidates to be the next Yeovil Town manager are scheduled to be interviewed, owner Scott Priestnall has said.

He has also confirmed that he has spoken with the club’s players about their futures, and said his plans to put a new board of directors would “not necessarily” see him remain as chairman.

A statement – see in full here – issued on Sunday afternoon follows protests during and following the 2-1 home win over National League leaders Stockport County with the chairman adding it was “completely untrue” that he had dismissed supporters’ concerns.

On Saturday evening, videos on social media showed the chairman waving at fans who were chanting against him inside the ground after the match.

In the statement, Priestnall said: “It is being reported that I am dismissing supporter unrest and not prepared to discuss the club’s current position and future. This is completely untrue.
 
“My public silence and lack of attendances at games over the last few months has been to respect the process of a proposed takeover, a takeover that has been made very public by the Glovers Trust.  I have given the process nine months to allow parties to get themselves in a position to complete, without success.”

The statement added: “While I understand the frustrations of those unhappy at yesterday’s game, there is a lot of misinformation on social media. I hope supporters can understand that I am not always in a position to refute online claims.

“Historically I have found my attempt to correct those claims has often led to further negativity and not as productive as I would have liked, which is my prime reason for silence.”

Ahead of yesterday’s game, the chairman spoke to a group of supporters in the Alec Stock Lounge in an address which was videoed and will be released “in the next few days“, according to the chairman. Some elements of the address can be read – here – however, we have been told a further three questions were put to and answered by the chairman.

Of the address, Priestnall said: “I discussed how I am putting a new board together, a board where I would not necessarily be Chairman going into next season. That the ownership structure of the club would change to create a more collective and shared thinking approach. Those discussions have included key supporters of the club and prominent business people who want to be involved in delivering a long term plan for YTFC.

“I also confirmed to supporters that I have been communicating with players and their representatives regarding player contract extensions. I have also scheduled interviews with our shortlist for the first team manager position, as it is crucial to have the right person in place going into the close season to fully maximise our player recruitment.”

In recent weeks, a number of the club’s players have spoken publicly about the uncertainty around the off-the-field situation at Huish Park, with the owner not having been seen at a match since January before his appearance this weekend.

Midfielder Josh Staunton called for clarity over the future of the club’s players which is understood to leave only defender Morgan Williams contracted to the club beyond the end of the current season.

In an interview broadcast on BBC Radio Somerset ahead of the Stockport game, defender Mark Little also spoke out about the soap opera surrounding the club.

He said: “For us trying to put performances on the pitch is like a battle, then there’s things going on and around that makes it difficult to perform.

“For some players it doesn’t matter, but for other players have lost their mentor, they don’t know if they’re here next year, with a team game whether one or 11 players are affected, it would be easier if everyone knew what was going on and the club could move forward.

“No-one here says that’s not what we want. It would be much better if there was no Coronation Street and Emmerdale situation.“