David Coates (Page 2)

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Yeovil Town owner Prabhu Srinivasan has revealed the club have appointed a new Sporting Director and agreed a playing budget increase for manager Billy Rowley.

In an update to supporters on Wednesday, the chairman said that the new appointment would be announced soon and described him as someone who “has operated at Football League level.“

The club will also continue to train at the SGS Wise Campus in South Gloucestershire next season having moved there last summer following the decision to leave the facility at Alvington.

The owner said: “Looking ahead, Billy will be backed with an increased playing budget, recruitment is already underway, and our commitment to developing local talent into the first team remains firm. First team training will remain based at SGS Wise Campus, which continues to provide excellent facilities that support both high-performance preparation and recruitment opportunities, giving players access to a professional environment that benefits their development and our long-term squad building.

“We are pleased to confirm that our new Sporting Director has joined the club, and we look forward to introducing them to you very soon. For a club with our ambitions, having someone in this role who has operated at Football League level – who understands what a joined up football structure looks like and what it takes to build one – is a significant step forward. Their remit is clear: to ensure that everything under our badge, from the first team to the academy, carries the same values, the same standards, and the same identity. That coherence is what separates clubs that grow sustainably from those that do not.“

Yeovil Town boss Billy Rowley will receive an increase in his playing budget next season, according to chairman Prabhu Srinivasan | Photo by Gary Brown

The update comes ahead of the final fixture of the season at Huish Park against Solihull Moors on Saturday lunchtime and the owner said the arrival of Rowley and his assistant Darren Simpson in November had led to “a clear shift in standards, stability, and the feel of life around the club.”

He added: “That shift required some hard decisions. We parted ways with individuals whose attitudes did not match the vision and values we are building this club around, and we navigated a number of inherited situations and historical matters that needed careful handling. I am proud of how the group responded to all of it.“

Off-the-pitch, the club extended its exclusive rights to buy back Huish Park and surrounding land from Somerset Council until 2028. The owner had previously spoken of an ambition to complete the purchase by the end of the current season, but described it as part of the ownership’s “long-term plan.”

He said: “Reuniting Huish Park with the football club remains a clear priority, with discussions ongoing. We have secured an extension on the buyback rights for Huish Park until 2028. This is an important step in our long-term plan to reunite the stadium with the football club. This season we have upgraded the floodlights to EFL required standards, improving pitch drainage, and enhanced the 3G pitch and lighting for youth and women’s access.

“We are also raising the bar on the everyday presentation of the ground, because Huish Park should be somewhere everyone connected with this club is proud to walk into. Historic financial commitments, including Sport England repayments, continue to be managed carefully as part of building a sustainable future.“

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Yeovil Town fans in the Thatcher’s End at Huish Park.

Episode #500 of the Gloverscast is coming up this Friday. We’re always honest with you, so the truth is we had something pretty cool lined up and, like Kyle Ferguson going down in a heap in a pre-match warm-up, it’s not going to happen in time to bring to you this week.

So, we want to hear from the people who really make the Gloverscast what it is – YOU!

That’s right, we want this episode to be you talking about your love of the club which brings us together and, you guessed it, we want your voice notes – keep them under 2 minutes long, if you can.

Don’t know how to send a voice note? Never fear, here’s some easy-to-follow instructions……

📱 Apple (iPhone)

  1. Open the Voice Memos app
  2. Tap the red record button and say your piece
  3. Tap stop, then tap the recording → Share
  4. Send it to us via email to gloverscast@gmail.com

🤖 Android

  1. Open the Voice Recorder app (or download one if needed)
  2. Hit record and give us your thoughts
  3. Save the recording
  4. Tap Share and send it to us via email to gloverscast@gmail.com

No idea what you would say? The options are endless, here’s a few ideas…..

  • How I started supporting Yeovil Town.
  • The game which made you fall in love with the Glovers.
  • The favourite or unusual place you have ever watched YTFC – we’ll accept watching on a stream in random places.
  • Your big hope for next season under Billy Rowley.
  • What you’d most like to see happen at Huish Park in the next 12 months – yes, a trampoline park IS realistic!

Let’s make Episode #500 about all the good things there are about being a supporter of this club – love, hope, ambition…..you can even throw a C-word (not THAT one!) in there.

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Yeovil Town lost their final away game of the season 3-0 to York City, who thought they had the league wrapped up at the LNER Community Stadium.

Here’s how things fared in North Yorkshire.

First half

Within the opening five minutes, York carved out two chances with Ollie Pearce going close and then Josh Stones stinging the palms of Jed Ward.

The front two harried the Yeovil back line throughout the opening 15 minutes with Stones a physical presence. He picked up a yellow card in the 18th minute for a over-zealous tackle on Dakarai Mafico.

Josh Stones on the turn inside the opening stages.

With 23 minutes played the inevitable happened as the visitors’ defence switched off from a quick throw in and Ollie PEARCE popped up with a header for his customary goal against Yeovil. Controversial though as replays appear to show there were two balls on the pitch just before the ball hit the net.

Ten minutes later, an error from Mafico almost gifted York a second as Malachi Fagan-Walcott tried to showboat inside the area, giving Yeovil the opportunity to clear.

There was a period as the game progressed we at least had a spell of pressure but, aside from a corner thanks to the efforts of James Daly, it did not lead to much. A hush fell around the LNER Community Stadium – which was pretty quiet as it was – as news of title rivals Rochdale taking the lead at Braintree Town filtered through.

But with two minutes remaining until half-time, they were back on their feet as Josh STONES doubled their lead. Unsurprisingly it was all about the power and persistence as he thumped home a second.

Half time: York City 2 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

If the task was not great enough, it got tougher as both Mafico and Delano McCoy-Splatt were withdrawn replaced by Harvey Greenslade and the lesser spotted Jonathon Page.
The first chance of the second half actually fell to Yeovil with Troy Perrett firing over the bar with two minutes gone.
But, with 52 minutes on the clock Jed Ward had the opportunity to show the television cameras what an excellent keeper he is. First making a great stop to push away an effort from Banks and then an even better one to keep out the rebound effort from Stones.
York defender Mark Kitching put an effort in to the side netting on the hour mark before Ward did well to deny another effort from Stones with his feet. Going the other way, Will Merry was against a bright spark down the left side. I like that his first instinct is to go forward whenever he gets the ball.
Will Merry on the attack
As the game pressed towards its conclusion, York brought on four substitutes with quality additions including Joe Grey and Greg Olley coming.
With two minutes of normal time, the previously silent (we’ll put it down to nerves) home support exploded in to life as news came from Braintree that they had pulled level against Rochdale. The title was coming to Yorkshire.
Two minutes in to second half stoppage Joe GREY curled home a third to add to the fervour inside the stadium.
The final whistle sounded with the home crowd waiting expectantly for the final whistle to sound a Braintree – only to hear that Rochdale had got a winner in the ninth minute of stoppage time. The title will be decided next Saturday when the two meet for a winner takes all tie.

Full time: York City 3 Yeovil Town 0

Match Details

Venue: LNER Community Stadium
Date: Saturday 18th April, 5.30pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Ollie Pearce 23 (0-1), Josh Stones 42 (0-2), Joe Grey 90+2 (0-3)

Pitch: Overall good despite the funny blue lines
Conditions: A beautiful Spring day

Attendance: 8219 (209 away supporters)

Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Dan Ellison 58
York City: Josh Stones 18, Hiram Boateng 76

Referee: Darren Drysdale

Yeovil Town

Substitutes: Jonathon Page (for Dakarai Mafico, 46), Harvey Greenslade (for Delano McCoy-Splatt, 46), Jaydon Biss (not used), Ollie Hughes (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

York City: Harrison Male, Ollie Banks, Hiram Boateng, Ben Brookes, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Alex Hunt, Zack Johnson, Jeff King, Mark Kitching, Ollie Pearce, Josh Stones.

Substitutes (not used): Daniel Batty, Ryan Fallowfield, Joe Grey, Callum Howe, Alex Newby, Greg Olley, George Sykes-Kenworthy.

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Cardiff City loan midfielder Dakarai Mafico returns to the Yeovil Town starting XI for today’s trip to title-chasing York City (5.30pm kick-off).
There is no place for Terrell Works with a hamstring worry keeping the Fulham loanee out of the squad.
There are just five players named on the Glovers’ substitutes bench for the fixture.

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Striker Harvey Greenslade is hoping he can finish the season with Yeovil Town well, but has admitted he will have to “see what happens” about his future at Huish Park.

The former Bristol Rovers frontman was the first signing of the summer of 2024 when he joined on a two-year deal following his release from the Memorial Ground and is one of a number of players who is out-of-contract this year.

He has managed just two goals in his 39 appearances this season, the same tally he managed last season, and his last goal came back at the end of August.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins ahead of Saturday’s trip to title-chasing York City, he admitted playing under four different managers – Mark Cooper, Richard Dryden, Danny Webb and now Billy Rowley – and not made it easy.

He said: “It’s been a bit hectic, I’ve not really had that before. I’m still young, so maybe I’ve not been as experienced as some of the other lads. With all the managers coming in, you want to play well for them, but they have all been really good to me. I wouldn’t say it has felt unstable, but we’ve all been a little bit in limbo at points, but now the ship’s a little bit steadied (under Rowley) and we want to make some progress and finish as high as we can. For me, I feel like I’ve played well at points and at times I could have been better, but I just want to do the best I can while I’m here for the last two weeks and see what happens going forward.”

Harvey Greenslade celebrates a goal.
Harvey Greenslade celebrates scoring his first goal of the season against Gateshead on Bank Holiday Monday. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

The 22-year-old, who celebrated his birthday last week, has been asked to fill a number of different positions including at right wing-back in last weekend’s 0-0 draw at home to FC Halifax Town following a late injury to defender Kyle Ferguson in the pre-match warm-up.

Asked about his role, he said: “Whenever you’re called upon you’ve just got to give your all. Obviously, I’m a striker, but then I’ll be thrown in at right wing-back and you’ve got to do a job.  As long as I can help the team out, I’m not going to complain and I think people know that.

“It’s all about learning,  I just turned 22 and it’s all about getting more experience and helping the team while I’m here. I am just trying to improve as much as I can, taking on new things from some of the more experienced lads like Brett (McGavin) and Jake (Wannell). It’s just going to be a bit of a learning curve this season, but anything can help me improve then obviously I’ll take it on board.”

Yeovil have just two more fixtures remaining of the National League Premier Division season and travel to title-chasing York City on Saturday knowing their place in the division is already secured. The Minstermen could seal promotion to the Football League after more than two decades away if they win and second-placed Rochdale do not get maximum points at already relegated Braintree Town at the weekend.

Greenslade said: “I think these last two games for us are about expressing ourselves. Obviously, the lads have points to prove going forward, so we can put on a good show for the fans that are going to travel up and hopefully they get to see the net bulge and we can celebrate afterwards. I feel like one thing I’ll always do is give 100%. I think whether it’s to the gaffer, I want to show that I’m a professional player who can always give his all when I’m called upon and I’ll do my best.

“To me, it’s just another game we want to win. We could be playing Brackley and it would be the same kind of mindset. I feel like everyone’s going to be watching this game and looking at it and thinking “Okay, Yeovil drew to Rochdale a couple of months back and they could do the same to York.” Obviously it’ll be a tough test, they’re a top team with some good players. Some people might want it to go down to the last day, but if we can just go there and do our bit, get our three points and make our fans happy, then that’s what’s important to me.“

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​Yeovil Town manager Billy Rowley has said the work to build a squad capable of challenging for the National League play-offs next season has already started.

The Glovers travel to title-chasing York City at the weekend for their final away trip of the season before finishing the campaign off at home to Solihull Moors seven days later.

But, the boss told BBC Somerset report Josh Perkins that his work will not stop when the final whistle sounds at Huish Park. He said: “We’re looking at the squad (to) rebuild for next season. We’re going to be in the office now all day looking at more things, not only on York but for the next few weeks and how that pans out. It’s a never-ending journey that we’re on.

“Obviously a lot of these lads will be remaining or some of them will be staying and we’ll be looking to bring in some fresh faces. I feel like the team is in need of a little bit of a rebuild, but we also want to reward the lads that have performed well this season. It’s going to be a mix of the two and we very much look forward to that.

“It’s something that I’ve done before personally; two years ago (at former club Walton & Hersham) I had to rebuild a team with three or four players and that season finished in the play-offs. I’m not going to say that’s going to necessarily happen next year, but that will be the aim and we’re going to aim high and we’re going to try and get some really good players in.“

On loan forward Terrell Works goes close in last weekend’s 0-0 draw at home to FC Halifax Town. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

In their first season back after at Premier Division level last season, the Glovers finished 18th and, even if they pick up maximum points in their final two fixtures, they are unlikely to break in to the top half of the division.

Asked about his play-off ambitions, Rowley added: “I would stand probably alongside another 14 to 15 managers in this division that would say the same. We don’t want to be a team, we don’t want to be a club that just turns up and makes the numbers up. When the league starts  in August, we want to be winning every match and we want to be at the top end of the league and this club and this support base deserves that.

“It’s been an incredible learning opportunity for me in these past four months to learn loads about the level and about the players that I’m working with on a day-to-day basis and the support base. There’s nothing more I would like than in this time next year we’re having conversations than to be a team at the top end of the table and not talking about achieving 50 points because that’s not where we want to be.“

The Glovers expect to have on loan Cardiff City midfielder Dakarai Mafico available for the trip to York and Rowley revealed captain Jake Wannell has been testing his injury to see whether he will be fit. Fellow central defender Kyle Ferguson, who limped off after picking up an injury in the pre-match warm-up before last Saturday’s goalless draw at home to FC Halifax Town, has also been in training and will be “touch and go” for York.

Captain Jake Wannell could return at York on Saturday. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown

The Glovers will be playing in front of a sell-out home crowd on Saturday as their hosts have a chance of clinching the title and a return to the Football League after 22 years away. They sit two points ahead of second-placed Rochdale, who travel to already relegated Braintree Town at the weekend, with the top two due to face each other in what could be a winner-takes-all final fixture.

Rowley said: “We can go to York on Saturday and play with the shackles off and try and be ourselves and cause an upset. With the greatest of respect for what them and Rochdale are trying to achieve, but we’re going there to win the game and play well.

“I think the natural thing to do when you’re towards the bottom end of the table is kick it long and play scared and play for set pieces and waste time and we’ve never done that. We’ve not been brilliant, we’ve not scored enough goals and we probably haven’t created as many chances as we’d like, but we’ve been brave in our build-up. We kept the boys trying to stay on the same patterns as we’ve been working on all season.

“We haven’t thrown those out the window and when it goes well for us, I think of like Tamworth at home, Morecambe at home we looked really good. So that’ll just be the message on Saturday really: keep doing what you’re doing, just do it slightly better.“

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Tickets for this weekend’s trip to title-chasing York City are back on sale for Yeovil Town fans – but there are a couple of caveats.

They will now only be available to Huish Park season ticket holders and supporters who have already purchased a home match ticket during the 2025/26 season which the Glovers have said is “in line with the request of the relevant safety authorities.”

Tickets for the game at the LNER stadium were taken off sale last week after increased demand from home supporters who will be turning up hoping to celebrate a return to the Football League.

The Minstermen are two points clear of second-placed Rochdale, who they face in the final game of the season, and could win the title with victory if Dale do not win at already relegated Braintree Town with both games kicking off at 5.30pm.

Announcing the news on Monday evening, Yeovil said: “Following ongoing communication with York City, tickets were temporarily taken off sale due to increased demand from home supporters. This allowed York’s stakeholders and safety team the opportunity to fully assess the situation and ensure supporter safety remains the top priority.

“As a result, tickets for this fixture will now be restricted. They will only be available to Yeovil Town season ticket holders and supporters who have already purchased a home match ticket during the 2025/26 season. Supporters without a home buying record this season will not be eligible to purchase.”

If you fulfil the criteria you have until midday on Friday to purchase a ticket which you can buy – HERE.

For our Huish Hugh Ciderspace Away Travel Guide to York, click HERE.

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Goalkeeper Jed Ward was the happiest man inside Huish Park as he collected his 11th clean sheet of the season in the goalless draw at home to FC Halifax Town.

The on loan Bristol Rovers man pulled off a number of the type of excellent saves which have become his trademark in a season which has seen him nailed on for the Player of the Season prize.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah after the game, the 22-year-old said: “Goalkeepers are judged on keeping clean sheets and that is 11 in the league which is amazing by my standards, so I’m really happy with that and I just want to keep that for the next two games as well.

“I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve found got myself into a really good form this season especially off the back of last season. I’ve loved playing in front of the fans, they’ve been brilliant, the staff, everyone around the place has been brilliant with me, so I have really enjoyed it.”

No questions around his future of the keeper who is under contract at Bristol Rovers until the summer of 2028, and is a player who Glovers’ fans would love to see back at Huish Park next season.

The match against FC Halifax Town is not one which will live long in the memories of anyone attending with two sides cancelling each other out. Yeovil suffered an knock before kick-off when defender Kyle Ferguson pulled up with an injury and had to be replaced in the starting XI by Harvey Greenslade with Finn Cousin-Dawson dropping back in to defence.

Ward said: “It was a tough game. They’re fighting to get into the playoffs which means it’s a big game for them, but I think we played some really good stuff today. It is definitely something that we, well, the lads, can look positively at going in to next season, playing that style of football, creating loads of chances.”

On the late change in defence, he added: “I think that goes down to the gaffer giving really good detail on what he wants from his players, I think anyone can slot into that. You’ve seen Dan (Ellison) come back from his loan and he’s done really well in the past two games, that is because he is a good lad and he’s willing to absorb information, he’s come in and done really well.”

There was one moment which got Ward’s pulse racing with three minutes of normal time remaining as Halifax’s Jay Turner-Cooke spotted him off his line and tried an audacious effort which skimmed the crossbar.

Ward said: “I saw it late which probably made it look better than it was, but I was just happy to make the save and keep us in the game at that moment. It definitely took me by surprise, especially that wind today. He’s caught it really well and it’s just traveled and kept going, so it’s a great strike from the lad and I was lucky that the crossbar was there.”

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Yeovil Town manager Billy Rowley admitted his side’s goalless draw at home to FC Halifax Town was not one for the footballing purists, but said he was pleased with some of what he saw from his side.

The Glovers’ boss admitted the similar styles of both sides cancelled each other out as they played out a contest which screamed of a long season coming to an end.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah after the game, he said: “I thought we more than matched them in a lot of aspects, but we are quite similar in terms of our style, which probably made the game for the supporters and the average punter quite boring because we kind of cancelled each other out in a lot of ways.

“I thought the first half we weren’t amazing, we adjusted a couple of ideas at half-time, more so just to like get in behind the opposition a little bit more, try and threaten their back line because they were playing quite high and we ended up with some half-decent chances. I would like to see us sustain the attack for a bit longer at times, we get in the final third and we’re a little bit rushed with our decision-making.

“But on the other hand, we’ve had good chances. Terrell (Works) has gone around the goalkeeper and missed kind of a one-on-one and then (Ryan Jones) has come up with a bit of magic at the end and he probably should have scored. On another day, we could win this game 2-0 and it’s an incredible result, but it’s not a bad performance, not amazing, and not a great result, but not a bad one.”

The Glovers suffered a blow just before kick-off when defender Kyle Ferguson pulled up with an injury in the pre-match warm-up and had to be replaced by Harvey Greenslade with Finn Cousin-Dawson, who was returning following a suspension, dropping back in to defence.

Rowley said: “It’s one of those innocuous ones. We have to probably wait 24-48 hours to see if it swells up, and then if it is bad, obviously have to wait for a scan. It’s on his knee, just in the warm-up. He got a knock from Harvey when he tried to pass the ball and his knee went inwards. So we had to change two or three ideas for the starting line-up which wasn’t ideal, but I felt like the boys adapted well. It wasn’t an amazing start for us, but the boys adapted well.

“We obviously planned the game quite well, they’re a good team but they’re quite structurally like positional-based, so you can plan quite well around them. I felt like we got our press right and I thought that the boys at the back—I thought Joy (Mukena), Finn, and Dan (Ellison) were all really good. We defended the box well, we were good in one-v-ones and I thought some of their build-up was really good as well. I just wish I was standing here a little bit more happy with, with getting three points because I felt like especially the last 20 minutes probably deserved that.”

Midfielder Jonathon Page, who has played just 136 minutes of competitive football, appeared as a 72nd minute opportunity as he begins his comeback from a injury which has hampered him since arriving in Somerset in mid-January.

Rowley said: “Pagey has got a top football brain. I think he gave the ball away once when he tried to play a one-two with Brett (McGavin) and they didn’t read each other, but apart from that I thought he was faultless. Apart from that I thought he was faultless, he’s always in the right position, he offers good angles, he’s comfortable on the ball. I feel really sad for Pagey because we got him in halfway through the season, he got injured against Brackley and then he got injured in his third game against Sutton or Aldershot. We’re probably not going to see Pagey at the top of his game because he’s only got two more games to get fit, but he is a top player and really good lad.”

Next weekend, Yeovil travel to title-chasing York City, who were 1-0 winners at Tamworth in the early fixture on Saturday, knowing they are up against a winning machine.

Rowley said: “I wish that we were playing for a playoff spot or something, but if we were to go there and get a point, it would add a little bit more spice to it. But we’re going to go there and we’re going to try. I think it’s a great learning opportunity for me and for the players and the staff, because we’re going to play against a team that are ridiculously good, have got some unbelievable players in front of a crowd that’s probably going to be a sell-out. It’ll be a real good learning curve for going to play in a top pressurised game and see what you can kind of get away with and how you can adapt to those situations. We’re going to go there and try and win, as simple as that, and hopefully we can spoil their party.“