David Coates (Page 137)

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In stark contrast to his opposite number, Aldershot Town manager Danny Searle has reported he has “everyone available” as the head in to tonight’s National League fixture with injury-ravaged Yeovil Town.

The boss said his fully fit side would not be looking to avenge the 3-0 defeat his side suffered at Huish Park at the end of last year.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Searle said: “I don’t think that has any relevance to it, it was such a long time ago and so much has happened between now and then. 

“We’re just focused on them coming (today) and not worried about what’s happened before because there’s nothing we can do about that.”

The boss also sent his condolences to the Glovers for the tragic loss of captain Lee Collins, and Searle noted that his side will face Yeovil during Mental Health Awareness Week.

The manager said: “It goes to who there are bigger things going on than what happens on the pitch.

“That doesn’t mean either side will not take this seriously, but it just makes you think about the perspective of this season.”

By the way, don’t forget, it’s a 7pm kick-off at The Recreation Ground.

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The Glovers Trust has revealed it is in “serious talks ” with people interested in forming a consortium to make an offer to buy the club.

In an update statement to members, it said: “We would like to assure you that we are in serious talks with parties who are keen to form a consortium and put together a credible bid.

“These are early days in the discussions and we will update further in due course.”

In December 2020, South Somerset District Council’s executive agreed to an offer from club chairman Scott Priestnall to buy and lease back Huish Park stadium and surrounding lands.

As the holder of an Asset of Community Value (ACV) on the Huish Park site, the Trust was given the right to seek a moratorium period which would place a pause of up to six months on that deal going through.

The moratorium is due to expire on Wednesday, May 26.

The Glovers’ Trust set out the reasons behind its decision – see here.

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In local authority news, South Somerset District Council will be getting a new Chief Executive from last month.

This is, of course, relevant as the authority’s District Executive Committee has agreed to buy Yeovil Town’s Huish Park stadium in a move spearheaded by Chairman Scott Priestnall.

At a meeting of the authority’s full council earlier, Clare Pestell was confirmed as the new incumbent, replacing Alex Parmley from June 7.

Those who recall the meeting of the council’s District Executive Committee last December which approved the deal may remember Mr Parmley saying:“We’re not spending money on a football club or giving them taxpayers’ money – we’re investing in the land. We’ll have a significant land asset with a value at the end of it.”

There were no elections held for members of South Somerset District Council on Thursday meaning Councillor Val Keitch, a Liberal Democrat councillor and season ticket holder at Huish Park, remains Leader of the Council.

Later this month, the pause on this deal triggered by the Glovers’ Trust decision to activate it Asset of Community Value (ACV) will lapse. The moratorium is scheduled to end on Wednesday, May 26.

At the time of confirming the activation, the Trust published this document explaining its reasons – see here.

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There were mixed fortunes for two former Yeovil Town midfielders this weekend.

Darren Way’s Plymouth Argyle under-18s team won the Merit League One title after a 1-1 draw at Cheltenham Town at the weekend.

But, Paul Warne, who had two seasons at Huish Park between 2007-2009, saw his Rotherham United side relegated from the Championship after drawing 1-1 at Cardiff City. Former Yeovil loanee Lewis Wing was on the scoresheet for the South Yorkshire side.

Congratulations and commiserations to both our old boys.

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Joe Quigley has said Yeovil Town spent too much time “dwelling on mistakes” as they went down to a 3-0 defeat at promotion-chasing Wrexham.

The Glovers were 3-0 down inside half-an-hour at the Racecourse Ground with defensive mistakes costing them dearly.

Speaking to BBC Radio Somerset after the game, Quigley said: “As a team we were dwelling on mistakes too much, when mistakes happen we need to crack on and focus on the next phase of play instead of thinking about the mistakes.”

The frontman, who played the full 90 minutes alongside Reuben Reid, refused to use first half injuries to Matt Worthington and Albi Skendi as an excuse.

He added: “We all train in different positions, we know the system we play and we know what the gaffer expects from us, so I don’t think that can be an excuse today.”

The defeat leaves Yeovil in 16th place in the National League table level on 48 points with Solihull Moors and Aldershot Town, who they travel to on Tuesday night.

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There’s plenty of things which have gone wrong for Yeovil Town this season, but  defensive frailties and injuries to key players would be in most supporters’ top two on-the-field issues.

In less than 30 first half minutes, both issues were cruelly exposed by a rampant Wrexham side who cruised to a 3-0 lead helped in no small part by gift-wrapped defending from the visitors.

Youth team graduate midfielder Toby Stephens made his debut when he came on for the final 10 minutes, and that really was the only highlight for Yeovil.

It says a lot that despite conceding three, goalkeeper Adam Smith was the visitors’ man of the match and without a number of high quality, reaction saves the score could have been much, much worse.

Here’s how I saw it…..

FIRST HALF

There was one change to the Glovers’ starting line-up with Matt Worthington returning from injury to replace Jimmy Smith who dropped out with a knock. Top-scorer Rhys Murphy returned on the bench in place of Alex Bradley.

Captain Carl Dickinson, who was making his 100th appearance for the club, started in the middle of defence alongside Albi Skendi, with Michael Kelly at left back and Billy Sass-Davies on the right. Add that central defensive partnership to the number made by boss Darren Sarll this season.

The home side took the lead in all too familiar fashion when Wrexham captain Shaun Pearson was given a free header to nod home a corner after just nine minutes, with Sarll screaming to make a substitution.

The change was made with Worthington replaced by Max Hunt presumably due to injury, but the shaky defending continued with Omotayo having a couple of chances against another central defensive pairing in Hunt and Dickinson.

On 17 minutes, Tom Knowles had the visitors’ first chance with a free-kick well saved by Rob Lainton.

But, it was another piece of calamitous defending that gifted Wrexham a 2-0 lead.  Joint top-scorer Luke Young was found in acres of space inside the box and his goal-bound shot was turned in to his own net by Hunt.

Only a fine stop from goalkeeper Adam Smith stopped it from being 3-0 with the Yeovil defensive all at sea (again) when Young burst forward and squared it to Dior Angus  whose shot was saved before Young blazed the rebound over.

Just before this chance, a tactical reshuffle saw Sarll switch to three at the back before reshuffling back to four after the plan’s shortcomings were very swiftly exposed.

Joe Quigley shot wide from distance soon after and to add injury to insult Skendi went off with what looked like a rib injury to be replaced by Emmanuel Sonupe.

Jordan Davies, who Tim Edwards from Wrexham fanzine Fearless in Devotion spoke to us about on Thursday’s Gloverscast, got the third with a free-kick from fully 25 yards out which bent round the wall and past Smith. Tim told us this lad was a future Wales international player and, with a technique like that, it’s hard to argue.

Angus and Davies could have added to the scoreline before the home side mercifully took their foot off the gas and Yeovil were able to see out the half.

That said, defender Theo Vassell was denied by another fine stop from Smith when he was (surprise, surprise) unmarked at the back post from a corner.

In reality, Wrexham would have felt disappointed to only be 3-0 ahead at the break. Heaven only knows how Sarll started that half-time team talk.

Half time: Wrexham 3 Yeovil Town 0

SECOND HALF

Presumably with the manager’s words ringing in their ears, Yeovil  did start the second half brighter with Neufville firing wide three minutes after the restart with Quigley and Reuben Reid both unable to get a touch to turn the ball home.

Shortly after, Omotayo was denied by a mixture of good luck and good goalkeeping from Smith who had raced to the edge of his box, and Cameron Green fired the loose ball wide.

Neufville was at the heart of some improved play for the Glovers for the first 15 minutes of the half, however, Lainton could easily have set up a deck chair such as the bluntness of the visitors’ attack. Quigley ran hard with little impact and on the few occasions the ball found Reid, he did nothing with it.

You always felt this was a bit like a cat playing with a cornered mouse – with Wrexham being the cat, of course – and in the 70th minute, Smith made another point blank stop to deny Pearson’s header from a corner.

Highlights were few and far between for Yeovil, but one was definitely the appearance of young midfielder Toby Stephens who replaced Knowles in the 80th minute.

He has been turning out for the Glovers’ under-18s side this season having come up through the Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust set-up.

Like many of his team-mates, Stephens struggled to see much of the ball in his time on the pitch as Wrexham strolled the game to a close.

With the last kick of the game, Omotayo found space on the edge of the box and hit it high wide and not very handsome – we were spared us that indignity, at least.

Can the season just be over now? Please.

Full time: Wrexham 3 Yeovil Town 0

WREXHAM: Lainton, Vassell, Pearson, Harris (for Rutherford, 39), Green, Kelleher, Davies (for Jarvis, 81), Young, Hall-Johnson, Omotayo, Angus (for Ponticelliat, 74)
Subs not used: Dibble, French,
Bookings: Young

YEOVIL TOWN: Smith, Dickinson, Sass-Davies, Skendi (for Sonupe, 28), Kelly, Worthington (for Hunt, 10), Knowles (for Stephens, 80), Neufville, Dagnall, Reid, Quigley.

Subs not used: Evans, Murphy.
Bookings: Dagnall, Knowles.

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Matt Worthington returns to the Yeovil Town midfield for the visit to promotion-chasing Wrexham, replacing Jimmy Smith who drops out of the squad entirely.

Top-scorer Rhys Murphy returns on the substitutes’ bench after missing the past two games through injury. Alex Bradley is also missing having come off the bench in the past two games.

Carl Dickinson is making his 100th appearance for the Glovers.

Yeovil Town: 1. Adam Smith; 3. Carl Dickinson, 18. Albi Skendi, 35. Billy Sass-Davies, 14. Michael Kelly;  7. Matt Worthington, 21. Tom Knowles, 24. Josh Neufville, 34. Chris Dagnall; 19. Joe Quigley, 33. Reuben Reid.

Subs: 31. Max Evans (GK), 26. Max Hunt, 36. Toby Stephens,  25. Emmanuel Sonupe, 9. Rhys Murphy.

For the hosts, former Yeovil Town striker Gold Omotayo was in the starting line-up, but there’s no place for Keanu Marsh-Brown.

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Yeovil Town Under-18s’ striker Alfie Lloyd was not in the QPR Under-23s side for their fixture against Nottingham Forest Under-23s on Friday night.

The youngster, who has been in fine goal-scoring form for the young Glovers this season, had appeared for the Rs in their last match, but did not feature in the team listed on the Forest website for the 1-1 draw.

He was reportedly on trial with the West London club.

In his pre-match press conference, Yeovil assistant manager Terry Skiverton did hint as some of the club’s younger players featuring in today’s National League fixture at Wrexham, so perhaps we’ll see Lloyd there…..

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A vote of no confidence against the National League Board and Chairman Brian Barwick will take place on Wednesday, May 26.

The vote will be held during an Extraordinary General Meeting called by National League South sides Dorking Wanderers and Maidstone United and is understood to be back by 17 other member clubs.

Alongside the vote of no confidence, they have asked for a working party to consider reforms to the League’s governance, such as immediately rescinding fines for not fulfilling fixtures.

Non-League football journalist Ollie Bayliss reported that the clubs were seeking legal advice over how the meeting will be run.

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Yeovil Town have confirmed fans will be allowed back in Huish Park for the final two home fixtures of the season.

In a statement on the official site, the club confirms that the games against Maidenhead United on Tuesday, May 18 and the final game of the season against $tockport County on Saturday, May 29.

Both games will be subject to “government  guidelines and necessary permissions”, according to the club statement.

All “active season ticket holders”, which are those who either received a partial refund, a streaming pass, or donated funds to the club, will have physical tickets sent to their home address, it added.

No details have yet been released around the other fixture which falls in the same period, the away trip to Altrincham on Saturday, May 22.

However, it seems unlikely away fans will be admitted to any fixtures for the remainder of the campaign.

Read the full statement on the club’s website – here.