June 2022 (Page 4)

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Marcus Stewart celebrates his goal in the League One play-off semi-final at Nott’m Forest in 2007. Pic: Len Copland – www.lencoplandphotography.blogspot.com.

Marcus Stewart has rejoined Yeovil Town as the Head of Player Development, adding a second new member of staff to Chris Hargreaves’ coaching team.

You might remember Marcus from a famous night in Nottingham that we enjoy reminiscing about now and again.

Speaking to YTFC.net on his appointment, Stewart said: “When Chris called me, this just felt like the right thing to do, I’ve been here before and I feel like I can help him.

“I’m here to do my best, like I did before. This is a club I’m fond of, it’s a club that’s local to me and where I have had a good relationship with the fans.”

Since retiring from playing in 2011, Stewart has coached at Exeter and assisted Darrell Clarke at Bristol Rovers and Walsall.

Marcus joined Yeovil on loan from Gary Johnson’s Bristol City in 2006 before making the move permanent.

Scoring 12 times in 67 league appearances for the Glovers.

Marcus Stewart celebrates goal in the League One play-off semi-final at Nott’m Forest in 2007. Pic: Len Copland – www.lencoplandphotography.blogspot.com.

His playing career spanned Huddersfield, Ipswich and Bristol Rovers with career transfer fees totalling well in excess of £5million.

During the 2000/01 season he was the Premier League’s highest scoring Englishman with 21 goals, just three behind Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in the race for the golden Boot.

Welcome back Marcus, we’re sure you can still stick in the net if needed?

(…and courtesty of our friend Green and White Goals… just because we can…. why not watch it once more? Skip to 21:30 for the Marcus Stewart bit.)

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Yeovil Town have confirmed that former Eastleigh and Torquay Under 18s manager Chris Todd is the club’s new assistant manager.

Chris Hargreaves confirmed he would be adding to his coaching staff and this represents his first appointment.

Speaking to YTFC.net he said; “I’m very excited. It’s a new challenge and when I spoke to Chris, we had a good conversation. We discussed the future of the football club and I wanted to be a part of that. 

“I hope the fans are excited about the new journey that we’re on together. I will give 110% daily, as I know Chris will and the rest of the background staff.

“This is a good group and we’re trying to make them successful, if they’re successful the Club is successful and it’s a good moment for everyone.”

Todd was part of the England Colleges coaching system this season so has recently worked with the Glovers’ Ollie Haste already.

He represented Exeter, Torquay, Hereford and Forest Green Rovers as player with coaching and management roles at Gloucester and Eastleigh since.

He was also diagnosed with a form of blood cancer in 2008, thankfully he recovered, he’s an author and an actor with a credit in a World War Two film and he’s performed in a national choir, is there anything this man can’t do!?

A quick look through the history books and I can only find one Chris Todd appearance against Yeovil as a player…

Torquay United’s 4-1 FA Cup win in 2008 which was shown live on the BBC, he scored the equaliser for the Gulls, cheers for that Chris.

Todd speaks to the BBC after knocking Yeovil out of the FA Cup

Welcome to the club, Chris!

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Yeovil Town boss Chris Hargreaves is expecting to appoint his backroom staff in the coming days.

The manager revealed there would be two appointments who he has worked with in his career arriving at Huish Park.

One hotly-tipped candidate who would fit the bill is ex-Glovers’ striker Marcus Stewart, who was assistant manager at Bristol Rovers when Hargreaves had a role at the Memorial Stadium.

Speaking to the club’s YouTube channel, Hargreaves said he expected the arrivals to bring “experience and different ideas.”

He added: “I know them both very well and have worked with them, so that’s another plus to take some of the workload.

“They know the size of the club and are looking forward to pre-season and get used to the players and the club.”

Stewart, who was part of the Yeovil side which reached the League One play-off final in 2007, was last in the professional game as number two to Darrell Clarke at Walsall, but left by mutual consent after a year saying he did not want to travel from his home in Bristol.

He is presently Head Coach of the Men’s Football team for Maccabi GB which works with the UK’s Jewish community on a range of sporting, educational and well-being activities.

In the interview, Hargreaves also said he had “probably 50 to 100 players” who he was looking at bringing to the club and said he hoped to be able to get “some over the line in the next couple of weeks.”

He said: “Now it’s about getting the right characters in and showing them what this club is about.

“We might not be paying the most money, but we have a history and a club and a fan base to offer them which is attractive.

“I’m hopeful we can get some over the line in the next couple of weeks, but more often than not it will be late because players leave their options open to the last minute.

“I’m hopeful there’s a couple on the horizon.”

In recent weeks, the club has announced a number of members of last season’s squad have committed themselves to Huish Park for the coming campaign with midfielder Matt Worthington the latest to do so.

He has been joined by goalkeepers Grant Smith and Max Evans, defenders Max Hunt and Morgan Williams, midfielder Lawson D’Ath and Josh Staunton and forward Tom Knowles, who have also extended their stays.

Only Staunton, who signed a two-year contract, is understood to have committed to staying longer than the 2022/23 campaign, and Hargreaves suggested he would be looking to keep them for longer.

He said: “It signals their intent because they want to stay. Some lads are contracted (for the coming season) and we have to make sure we either tie them down or get the best out of them for their own careers or for us going forward.

“There will be a few conversations to have in pre-season but I’ve spoken to most of them and they are committed to the cause so roll on pre-season.”

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Matt Worthington ?Mike Kunz.

Yeovil Town’s longest current servant, Matt Worthington has extended his contract with the Glovers until the end of the 2022/23 season.

Worthington has made more than 125 appearances in the green and white of the Glovers including over 40 this season across all competitions – the most he’s managed in any single season.

Speaking to YTFC.net he, and manager Chris Hargreaves, said how delighted they were to get the deal done confirming thay the midfielder had other options.

Commenting after his stay was confirmed, the midfielder said; “I’m delighted to sign a new deal to stay at this club once again. 

“We’ve got a few weeks to go, but I’m already looking forward to getting back out there with the lads and doing all we can for the fans.” 

Manager Chris Hargreaves also added, “It’s brilliant that Matt has agreed to sign for us. He is a player I feel the fans identify to and relate with. 

“He had offers elsewhere, but it was Matt’s passion for the football club that drove this move, I’m really delighted he’ll be with us next season.”

We at the Gloverscast are delighted you’re staying, Matt!

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Transfer rumour season has arrived!!!

Tony Lee scores for Poole ? @TonyLee28

Yeovil Town have been linked with Poole Town striker Tony Lee by the Bournemouth Echo.

Echo Journalist Jack Tanner claims that the Glovers are ‘strong suitors’ for the front man, suggesting that Torquay United may well lead the race for his signature.

According to the Echo, Poole were requesting a ‘five figure’ fee for his services and that other clubs including Woking (?), Halifax and Grimsby were also tracking the striker.

Lee is still contracted to Poole for the upcoming season after the 25-year old scored 47 goals in 48 games over the past two seasons.

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Max Evans. ? Mike Kunz.

Yeovil Town Goalkeeper Max Evans has confirmed his contract extension until the end of the upcoming 2022/23 season.

Evans, 20, was listed on the end of season ‘retained list’ as being part of the squad for next season, but we today got confirmation of the one-year extension.

Evans made just one league appearance last season starting in the 1-0 win away at Altrincham under caretaker boss, Josh Staunton.

He also played in the FA Trophy and Somerset Premier Cup and will once again push Grant Smith for the number 1 shirt this season.

Good to have you back on board, Max

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Josh Neufville. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

A social media post by Luton Town winger Josh Neufville has hinted at a possible return to Yeovil Town.

The 21-year-old, who became a fans’ favourite at Huish Park after two successful loan spells over the past two seasons, posted a selection of his highlights in green and white on his Instagram on Sunday night.

On top of the post is the words: Unfinished business.

In the comments, fellow loanee Jack Robinson replied: “What a player ytfc are getting congrats mate.”

Far be it from us to speculate on possible summer arrivals – see story featuring Morgan Williams’ dog from this time last year – but if arrival of Neufville would be quite a coup for new boss Chris Hargreaves.

If he were to join, he would be the first signing for the manager who has tied up existing squad members goalkeeper Grant Smith, defenders Max Hunt and Morgan Williams, midfielders Josh Staunton and Lawson D’Ath and forward Tom Knowles.

In his first loan spell from Luton, managed by former Yeovil defender Nathan Jones, Neufville turned out 31 times in the second half of last season.

That ended with a horrific ankle injury in the penultimate National League fixture of the season at Altrincham.

Having spent eight months regaining his fitness, he returned on loan in March and went on to make 11 league appearances scoring the second in a 2-1 home win over Stockport County.

He was recalled ahead of the final game at Altrincham with his parent club in the Championship play-offs.

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When the Yeovil Town released list came out, we sprung a snap poll on Gloverscast Twitter to ask you what you thought about the news of the six departures.

More right than wrong or more wrong than right? Well, 179 votes in at the time of writing, the overwhelming consensus (94% – it’s never totally unanimous, is it?) is that Chris Hargreaves has got it right.

I completely agree.

Anyone who listened to our Player Review of the Season (if you haven’t, either read it here or listen to it here) will know we all expected the majority of the six to depart. “So did I,” I hear you cry.

Jordan Barnett. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Perhaps the only surprise for me was Alex Bradley who would seem young enough and talented enough to be worth another chance. Jordan Barnett (age 22) probably falls in to the same bracket, but I suspect for both that a departure was more mutual than one way or another.

Couple this with the signing of Lawson D’Ath for a further year joining the likes of Smith, Hunt, Williams, Staunton and Knowles and you can feel a spine to build around – and, as Ben said the other week, “a spine is important.” True story.

That is a spine with a good amount of experience, a decent amount of talent and some real leadership; and there’s still the possibility of Charlie Wakefield and Matt Worthington joining them. Personally, I would be surprised to see Charlie stay (although I’d love him to do so), but I’d be very happy to keep Worthy.

But, when looking at the stats of the departing six, it became apparent that we are losing (by choice, I know) players who played a lot of games last season. Here’s the stats:

Dale Gorman
Appearances: 47 (NL 40, FAC 5, FAT 2, SPC 0)
Goals: 5

Adi Yussuf
Appearances: 45 (NL 35 FAC 4, FAT 2, SPC 4)
Goals: 10 – yes, two of them were in the Somerset Premier Cup.

Jordan Barnett
Appearances: 45 (NL 37 FAC 4, FAT 1, SPC 3)
Goals: 1 – but what a one!

Alex Bradley
Appearances: 31 (NL 22, FAC 2, FAT 2, SPC 5)
Goals: 1

Reuben Reid
Appearances: 29 (NL 23, FAC 2, FAT 2, SPC 2)
Goals: 3

Mark Little
Appearances: 20 (19 NL, FAC 0, FAT 1, SPC 0)
Goals: 0

I know there’s a lot more to it than statistics and the contribution of the six above has been limited, but Hargreaves is going to need to recruit well to plug these gaps. “He doesn’t need you to tell him that, Coates,” I hear you cry.

So what do we need the most? Attacking talent, pure and simple. If we keep Wakefield (see earlier comment) then I’d like to see more of him as “a silky winger….he’s just what we need” rather than through the middle, but there needs to be someone in the middle of the park to be creative as well.

We asked which position you felt YTFC needed to strengthen in….

D’Ath is great for that, but I suspect he’s unlikely to play the necessary amount of games to make the kind of impact we’d need. And, even if he proves me wrong (please do, Laws!) then we need more than one.

In the season just gone we had a team capable of making the play-offs, but a squad capable of a bang mid-table finish. Which is what we got.

Add in an experienced head who can weigh in with some goals in major competitions and we’ve got something that I think can compete.

When you think about the ‘earners’ we’ve released – Little, Reid, Gorman, all experienced heads who would have been at the higher end of the pay scale – there is money there to invest. Right, Mr Chairman?

I confess Chris Hargreaves was not my choice as manager, but I always believed in giving him a chance to prove me wrong. So far, so good.

Oh, the vote on the released list is up to 186 votes now, but still 96% in favour. Who are the 4%? What more do you want?!

Do you have a view on this? If you’re happy for it to be shared on the website, please send it to us at gloverscast@gmail.com. Alternatively, you can tell us we’re wrong (or right) on our social media channels – find us on Twitter and Facebook.

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Midfielder Dale Gorman has rejected a new contract offer from Yeovil Town and is one of six players who will leave the club.

Strikers Reuben Reid and Adi Yussuf, full-back Mark Little and the versatile Jordan Barnett and Alex Bradley have been released by new manager Chris Hargreaves, the club confirmed on Friday night.

Dale Gorman. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Winger Charlie Wakefield and midfielder Matt Worthington have both been offered new contracts and are yet to give the club an answer.

The announcement follows confirmation that playmaker Lawson D’Ath has re-signed for the 2022-23 campaign.

Even before the club officially confirmed Little’s exit, League of Wales side Penybont, who also have ex-Glovers’ loanee Shaun MacDonald, announced he would join them next season.

Northern Irishman Gorman made more than 40 appearances last season having joined from Glentoran, linking up with his old Stevenage manager Darren Sarll. It would be little surprised to see the pair reunited at Woking.

Reid and Yussuf managed just 11 goals between them with Yussuf weighing in with eight (including a questionable one in the derby draw with W*ymouth at Huish Park), but neither have impressed.

Barnett is perhaps a surprise name among those listed although he is still presently the subject of an FA charge having allegedly made 138 bets on football matches over a period of more than three years.

The decisions of both Wakefield and Worthington will be closely watched by Glovers’ fans.

 

Players released :
Reuben Reid
Mark Little
Adi Yussuf
Alex Bradley
Jordan Barnett

Remaining under contract or contract extension triggered:
Tom Knowles
Grant Smith
Max Evans
Morgan Williams
Max Hunt

Contracts offered and accepted:
Josh Staunton
Ollie Haste
Toby Stephens
Lawson D’Ath

Contract offers made:
Matt Worthington (awaiting response)
Charlie Wakefield (awaiting response)
Dale Gorman (rejected and will be departing the club)

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Lawson D’Ath. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Midfielder Lawson D’Ath has signed a new contract with Yeovil Town, extending his stay at Huish Park for a fourth season in a row.

D’Ath returned from a devastating injury in January and making 17 appearances in the National League.

Speaking to YTFC.net after renewing his contract, D’Ath said: “I’m absolutely buzzing to be staying here! I’ve absolutely loved my time here so far and I really feel at home in Yeovil. It’s the start of a new chapter here and I can’t wait to get started!”

Manager Chris Hargreaves added: “I’m delighted that Lawson has agreed to stay at Yeovil and I’m excited to work with him. Last season, he showed terrific determination to get through his injury. He is a player of real quality and is another experienced head in the changing room.”

So far, the Glovers squad for next season includes, D’Ath, Josh Staunton, Tom Knowles, Max Hunt, Morgan Williams, Grant Smith, Toby Stephens and Ollie Haste.

Good luck for next season Lawson, we’re glad you’re staying!