David Coates (Page 180)

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The big news for $tockport County as they arrive at Yeovil Town for the final match of the Glovers’ season is the absence through injury striker Paddy Madden.

The Irishman, who will forever be a legend among Yeovil supporters for his 24 goals in our League One promotion season in 2013, is missing with an ankle injury.

He has not played since scoring and then going off at half-time with the knock in the 1-1 draw with Dagenham & Redbridge on May 11.

But, for $tockport the mission will be three points to ensure their place in the National League’s top three, meaning they only have to play two games to potentially regain their place in the Football League.

Hartlepool United, who host W*ymouth at the weekend, will be hoping Yeovil can do them a favour by taking points off our visitors to give them a chance to nick third place.

Given their record, particularly away from Edgeley Park where they have not lost in their past six trips, our big-spending visitors will be coming to South Somerset in confident mood.

FROM THE MANAGER

Speaking ahead of the visit to Huish Park, $tockport County manager Simon Rusk admitted that playing in front of opposition fans for the first time this season would present a different challenge to this team.

He said: “It has been a long time since we have had a hostile environment in an away stadium, so we have to be aware of that, but we have an experienced set of players and I think we will deal with that naturally.

“All games represent a difficult task in different ways, and it is probably indicative of the league table where we have have Yeovil who have challenged in previous years but this season has not really panned out.

“But, they are well-organised with a good manager and a strong set of players, so it is another game where you have to be at a high level of performance to get that three points.”

 

TEAM NEWS

The big news is the absence of Paddy Madden who is expected to miss his chance to return from injury at Huish Park this weekend.

However, $tockport boss Simon Rusk is hoping to have forward Harry Cardwell, who is on loan from National League North side Chorley, back from injury to partner Alex Reid up front in the absence of Madden.

Asked about making decisions on players fitness with crucial play-off games coming up, Rusk said: “In terms of the decisions around players you could expose to injury, we are at a time of year where the consequences are a little more terminal.

“If you lose someone for two or three weeks you are losing them for really important games, so it is in my thinking.

“But, we are a strong team and if players are missing out, we have confidence in those who are coming in.”

As well as Madden, the visitors will be without long term injury victim, left back Mark Kitching, who has been out of the squad since February.

 

A FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS

If you thought the links between former and current $tockport County and Yeovil Town players started and finished with Paddy Madden, think again.

There’s so many, I’ll just list them and when they played for both clubs:

Paddy Madden – Yeovil Town (2012-2014), $tockport County (since March 15, 2021);

David Poole – Yeovil Town (2005-2007), $tockport County (2006-2008);

Joe Edwards – Yeovil Town (2012-2015), $tockport County (2011-2015 – loan);

Liam Bridcutt – Yeovil Town (2008 – loan), $tockport County (2009-2010 – loan);

Matt Warburton – Yeovil Town (2020-2021 – loan), $tockport County (2017-2019);

Wayne Hennessey – Yeovil Town (2013 – loan), $tockport County (2013 – loan);

Dominic Blizzard – Yeovil Town (2011-2013), $tockport County (2007-2009);

Andy Welsh – Yeovil Town (2008-2011), $tockport County (2001-2004);

Phil Jevons – Yeovil Town (2004-2006), $tockport County (2013-2014);

Paul Huntington – Yeovil Town (2010-2012), $tockport County (2009-2010);

Michael Rose – Yeovil Town (2004-2006), $tockport County (2006-2010);

Mark Lynch – Yeovil Town (2006-2008), $tockport County (2010-2012).

 

Listen to when the Glovercast  met $tockport County podcast, The Scarf Begara Wore, on our latest edition – click here to listen.

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A charity match scheduled to be held at Huish Park to raise funds for a charity in memory of former Yeovil Town striker Adam Stansfield has been postponed.

Organisers Kevin Gall and Abby Carter posted on the event’s Facebook page that the “ongoing uncertainty” around the COVID-19 pandemic had caused them to delay the match until May 2022.

It had been hoped the game between a team of former Glovers’ favourites and a South West Legends XI could have been staged in pre-season of the upcoming 2021-22 season.

The statement said: “As you all know we have been working tirelessly to get this game and event on for Stanno but due to the ongoing uncertainty of Covid 19 restrictions and fans and some circumstances out of our control it looks like we will have to postpone the game from this pre-season where we hoped to stage the game until May 2022 at the end of the coming season.”

The Yeovil Town Legends team will be made up of members of the side which won promotion to the Football League in 2003 and League Two in 2013.

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The partner of late Yeovil Town captain Lee Collins has thanked the club and its fans for their support since his death in March.

In an open letter, posted here on the club’s official website, Rachel Gibbons, said she had been “truly touched” having visited the floral tributes left outside Huish Park.

She said: “I personally visited the floral tributes left at the ground for Lee on a couple of occasions and I read every single card, note, picture and beautiful words written by people for Lee. I am truly touched by everyone’s kindness.”

Earlier this week, the club launched a Crowdfunder to raise £10,000 for Lee’s family and Young Minds, a mental health charity

Former Yeovil Town captain Lee Collins in action.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

working with young people.

The fund has already raised more than £3,000 with supporters of many of the defender’s former clubs donating.

Rachel added: “Mental health is so vitally important, and I ask any of you reading this, if you need help or are offered help by those closest to you, because they see you need it when you can’t, please, please reach out. It is OK to not be OK, and there is always someone there for you… Even when you feel like there isn’t.
“Lee was your captain, your leader. For us, he was our safe place, our best friend.”

Speaking earlier in the week when the Crowdfunder was launched, Glovers’ boss Darren Sarll said there would be a celebration of Lee’s life at the final game of the season against Stockport County this weekend.

To donate to the fund, visit – click here.

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Non-League journalist Ollie Bayliss is reporting that the National League’s Board of Directors and Chairman Brian Barwick has survived a vote of no confidence.

Unfathomably, none of the National League Premier clubs voted in favour of the motion, brought by National League South sides Maidstone United and Dorking Wanderers, after 17 clubs across the National League Premier, North and South were fined for failing to fulfil fixtures.

Last month, Barwick notified the National League Board of Directors that he will be stepping down at the end of this season. Yeovil Town Chairman Scott Priestnall is a member of the National League board.

 

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South Somerset District Council has confirmed its offer to purchase and leaseback Huish Park remains on the table and the decision whether to proceed with it rests with  owner and Chairman Scott Priestnall.

Tomorrow (Wednesday, May 26), a moratorium which prevented the deal agreed last December from going ahead is due to end.

We put these questions to SSDC:

  • Following the conclusion of the moratorium, when will South Somerset District Council (SSDC) be concluding the deal with the owners of Yeovil Town Football Club?
  • Can the council confirm the name of the company with which this agreement has been reached?
  • Can you provide details of how soon you expect the agreement to be concluded?
  • How will the changes in the council impact things if the owner chooses to continue with the sale?

In a statement to the Gloverscast, a council spokesperson said:

“Following the end of the six-month moratorium period under the relevant regulations, the owners of YTFC are free to sell to whomever they choose and at whatever price they agree. The council’s offer remains available if the owners wish to take it up at the end of this period. Ultimately, the final decision and timing sits with the owners, therefore the council cannot provide any more detail at this time. No doubt after the end of the moratorium period more discussion with SSDC and YTFC will take place.”

The spokesperson added that the situation with the restructuring of the various councils in Somerset makes the future of the site unclear. They said:

“Any commercial portfolio would be taken forward into which ever new organisations or new organisation is formed. It will be up to the Leadership of any new administration to determine what it will do with assets it holds and it’s impossible to speculate at this stage what those decisions would be. A continued commercial approach to financially support services is included in the Stronger Somerset proposal.”

On Tuesday night, the Glovers’ Trust, which triggered the moratorium when it decided to activate an Asset of Community Value (ACV) it holds on Huish Park, said it was not in a position to make a counter offer to SSDC’s.

In a statement, the Trust said it believed the club’s future was “in jeopardy” in the deal was able to go ahead – see more here.

It also called for the Council to review the decision to approve the deal with Chairman Priestnall – see more here.

In the minutes of the council’s District Executive Committee on December 3 where the deal was agreed, Mr Priestnall said “the finance would help the club to survive and thrive in the future to retain football league status and have a club which the local community could be proud of. “

The minutes added: “He (Priestnall) confirmed that he was not seeking to recoup any of his personal investment in the club through the transaction.”

In his last public statement published on February 24, Mr Priestnall said he was “still exploring” the deal and had “kept dialogue open” with the council. In that statement, he added: “We also have offers to sell the land when the moratorium period ends. A decision will be made once the Sport England loan position is finalised as to our next step with regards a full planning application.”


For more details on the history of the SSDC deal and the Glovers Trust’s ACV, read our Gloversblog – here.

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The Glovers’ Trust has asked South Somerset District Council to review its decision to purchase Huish Park from the owners of Yeovil Town.

In a letter to council Chief Executive Alex Parmley, the Trust said it believed club’s situation had “changed substantially” since the council’s Executive Committee approved the deal to buy and leaseback the stadium and surrounding lands at a meeting last December.

In a report to the Executive Committee for that meeting, members were told the council had been approached by Glovers’ chairman Scott Priestnall seeking its involvement “to intervene and avoid the club becoming insolvent.”

In its letter, Glovers’ Trust chairman Brendon Owen told the council: “The report stated the Chairman of the Club (had) reported that the club will ‘run out of money by Christmas 2020.’
“Here we are in May 2021, with the Club still operating, so clearly it has been able to make alternative financial arrangements. I’m sure you are aware part of this includes a loan from Sport England who now become a creditor.
“It is likely therefore that funds generated from the sale of the club will go to pay off debts and covenants that currently prevent development.”

The letter adds: “It is disingenuous of the Council to claim that it is helping save the club when it is giving with one hand and taking with the other. They club may have a short-term fix, but its long-term effects will be damaging.”

The letter warns a number of objections could be raised to any planning decision. The Trust adds it believes Sport England will appeal against any decision to develop on the top pitches at Huish Park and that development of the club’s car park would lead to supporters parking on nearby residential streets.

No planning applications have been submitted to provide details of any development of the land, however, in an update on March 1 the Trust did publish an image of a “Concept Plan” showing the potential scale of development – see here.

In its letter to the council, Mr Owen added: “As a supporter’s group we have been working with architects and master planners and have begun to construct a vision for the site, one that would make the site a destination through the working week as well as weekends, and that would be based around health and well being as well as commercial and housing developments. We believe it is possible to do all of these things.”

In the minutes of the council’s District Executive Committee on December 3, Mr Priestnall said “the finance would help the club to survive and thrive in the future to retain football league status and have a club which the local community could be proud of. “
The minutes added: “He (Priestnall) confirmed that he was not seeking to recoup any of his personal investment in the club through the transaction.”

In his last public statement published on February 24, Mr Priestnall said he was “still exploring” the deal and had “kept dialogue open” with the council.
In that statement, he added: “We also have offers to sell the land when the moratorium period ends. A decision will be made once the Sport England loan position is finalised as to our next step with regards a full planning application.”

For more details on the history of the SSDC deal and the Glovers Trust’s ACV, read our Gloversblog – here.

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The Glovers Trust has warned the future of Yeovil Town is “in jeopardy” if a deal to sell Huish Park to South Somerset District Council goes ahead.

In a statement to members, sent on Monday night, the Trust said it had been contacted by “several groups” and was “aware parties have reached out to intermediaries at the club” about buying the club.

On Wednesday, May 26, a  six-month moratorium preventing the deal approved by the council’s executive last December expires, leaving the authority apparently free to conclude the deal confirmed by Chairman Scott Priestnall.

The moratorium has been in place since the Trust activated an Asset of Community Value (ACV) which it holds, giving it six months to make a bid for Huish Park and surrounding lands.

In its statement to members, the Trust claimed the pause had “given others the chance to reflect on the scheme and for the cultivation of a belief that a better route can be found to secure the long-term security of our club.”

It added: “The provisional plans shared with us by the SSDC may bring a limited short term financial boost, however there is no legal framework to guarantee that YTFC benefits from the scheme over the longer term. We believe that under this proposal the future of YTFC is in jeopardy.”

It added: “We acknowledge that from Wednesday 26th, the owners are free to continue with the proposal from SSDC or to affect a sale to whomsoever they choose.
“The Glovers Trust Board’s stance remains unaltered with regard to the SSDC proposal in that we retain major concerns. This proposal was championed as ‘the only option’ but this has been proved to have been only one of the options available.
“The Glovers Trust Board hold serious reservations as to whether the monetary figures involved add up. Will a tenant YTFC ever be in a financial position to own Huish Park again?”

In the minutes of the council’s District Executive Committee on December 3, Mr Priestnall said “the finance would help the club to survive and thrive in the future to retain football league status and have a club which the local community could be proud of. “
The minutes added: “He (Priestnall) confirmed that he was not seeking to recoup any of his personal investment in the club through the transaction.”

In his last public statement published on February 24, Mr Priestnall said he was “still exploring” the deal and had “kept dialogue open” with the council.
In that statement, he added: “We also have offers to sell the land when the moratorium period ends. A decision will be made once the Sport England loan position is finalised as to our next step with regards a full planning application.”

For more details on the history of the SSDC deal and the Glovers Trust’s ACV, read our Gloversblog – here.

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Luton Town academy head coach Adrian Forbes has hailed the impact a loan spell with Yeovil Town has had on winger Josh Neufville.

The 20-year-old’s season was cruelly cut short after suffering a serious ankle injury in the Glovers’ 4-3 defeat at Altrincham at the weekend, having played 31 times since arriving in December.

But, Forbes, the Championship side’s Head of Academy Coaching and Professional Player Development, said the player’s time in Somerset had been of huge benefit.

Speaking to the club’s website, Forbes said: “It’s one of those situations with Josh where if he’d stayed with me with the under-21s, he’d have developed, but he wouldn’t have got the experience and education he’s had this season at Yeovil.
“To go and play National League football, week in week out, and do as well as he’s done, you know he can do that now.
“We know the answer, and it’s been really pleasing to see the impact he’s had on that Yeovil team.
“Josh has the two things that no-one can coach – power and pace – and he’s taken that from academy, development football playing against lads his own age, into a men’s league where points and livelihoods are at stake.
“So although his time there has ended prematurely, and in a sad way, in the long run he’ll have gained so much from his time down at Yeovil.”

Neufville is the second Luton youngster to have an impact for the Glovers’ this season with defender Gabriel Osho having also impressed during a one-month loan before being recalled at the start of the year.

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Goalkeeper Adam Smith has been released by his parent club Forest Green Rovers following a season on loan at Huish Park.

The 28-year-old was confirmed as one of four players being released after the Gloucestershire club’s failure to make the League Two play-off final on Sunday.

Goalkeeper Adam Smith has spent this season on loan at Yeovil Town.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Defender Chris Stokes, who trained with Yeovil Town for a spell in January 2015 before moving on loan to Coventry City, has also been released along with midfielder Scott Wagstaff and forward Shawn McCoulsky.

With Glovers’ boss Darren Sarll without a recognised goalkeeper, it would be a surprise if he was not interested in bringing Smith to the club permanently.

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Josh Neufville’s mother has taken to Twitter to thanks all the Glovers’ fans for sending their best wishes to the young winger after he suffered a broken ankle at the weekend.

The 21-year-old, who has been on loan at Huish Park from Luton Town since the end of last year, suffered a broken ankle in the early stages of the 4-3 defeat at Altrincham at the weekend.

He posted on his Instagram story: “This is football. No sob stories. Everyone has a story to tell and this is a part of mine.”

Meanwhile, his life coach and motivational speaker mother, Jackie, thanked supporters for their good wishes.