Gloversblog (Page 2)

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Where to start with that? It was an unbelievable afternoon at Huish Park in a match that had it all. Here are Ian’s five conclusions from emotional rollercoaster that was Yeovil Town 3 Gateshead 4.

The first half was scintillating. I cannot recall us blowing away a team in that fashion in years. Everyone was in sync, the football was flowing and the chances were taken. The players were much more comfortable in a 4-2-3-1 and the roles were clear. The energy of the forwards and the high press stopped Gateshead from getting any flow whatsoever and we forced them into mistakes which led to goals for Josh Sims and Junior Morais. Williams and Wannell looked their imperious best at the back, with Whittle and Pendleton on the overlap. Everything clicked and it was exhilarating.

Josh Sims celebrates his goal at Huish Park.
Josh Sims celebrates putting Yeovil Town in front against Gateshead. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

I was a big fan of our McMidfield. After the Brackley Town match I said that I didn’t think we were particularly mobile in midfield and dropping Luke McCormick deeper to partner Brett McGavin felt like the solution in the first half. He was energetic, ran with the ball, played forward and showed that he’s, perhaps, better suited to a role deeper rather than one of the number 10 positions. His mobility and McGavin’s passing set us up well in the first half and when we lost McGavin to injury we lost that composure in the middle of the pitch.

The second half was abysmal. Everything that was good in the first half seemed to just disappear when the players emerged for the second half. Gateshead matches us up and reverted to a back four (wingbacks 🚮) took control of the game and got an early goal which immediately put the spooks on the players and Huish Park. You could almost sense the “here we go” murmur around the stadium. And boy, did it go. What was said at half time? How can a team go from being so confident to so withdrawn? The high press disappeared and we showed that age-old trait of sitting back and inviting pressure. Taking off a winger and bringing on a centre back 3-3 spoke volumes. 

The players must take some responsibility. It’s unacceptable to be in such a position of dominance after 45 and to then crumble in such a manner. We were missing leadership on the pitch as the 2nd half progressed. Legs tired with the schedule (although Gateshead didn’t seem to have a problem?) Finn Cousin-Dawson came in for McGavin and did the battering ram role in midfield. Ben Wodskou had a huge chance after great work by Tahvon Campbell to get Yeovil a fourth but couldn’t finish like he did against Brackley. He should have scored. But, in that 2nd half we were crying out for some Sarll-esque characters to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and we don’t have them. Is that down to the players or the recruitment? The irony of Frank Nouble leading the front line and dragging his new team over the line, months after leaving under a cloud, was not lost. Credit to the players, they did go round to the supporters and front up to those who remained to applaud their efforts. The supporters have never not been behind the players.

I’m not sure what happens next, but we all know what needs to. The outrage was palpable from the equaliser. Huish Park was clapping along in unison to “we want Cooper out” from the Thatchers. As soon as the fourth went in the manager was down the tunnel as fury erupted from the stands. The decision makers were all in town for this one and just five games into their tenure they have a decision to make. The mood amongst supporters is clear, and it can’t just be brushed off as ‘people online’. No club wants to be seen as a sacking club and I understand that rationale, but the relationship with the majority of the fan base is irrevocable. Shortlists need drawing up and a plan needs to be made for change before Matt Uggla’s York City visit on the 6th September.

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After an eight-hour round trip to Essex and back, Dave gives his thoughts on the Yeovil Town performance at Braintree Town yesterday. Now all eyes turn to Huish Park tomorrow…


We could still be there now and not score: There were opportunities and you cannot fault the attacking intent there was at times, but the finishing was abysmal. Aaron Jarvis, Tahvon Campbell, Josh Sims, Junior Morias, Ben Wodskou, Harvey Greenslade, they all tried and they all failed. 12 shots (five on target, seven off target) and some of those off target ones were woeful. “We have to be more clinical,” says Mark Cooper – but how many times have we heard that? Alex Fisher, Reo Griffiths, Jordan Young, Malachi Linton, Ollie Hulbert, Jake Scrimshaw, Louis Britton, Seb Palmer-Houlden, Jake Hyde, Rhys Murphy, Frank Nouble, Jahmari Clarke, Sonny Cox, Olly Thomas, Ciaran McGuckin, Harvey Greenslade, Aaron Jarvis. I think that’s all the strikers we have had under this manager and how many have got in to double figures? Murphy, Young, Nouble in the 2023-24 season in National League South, I think. Yes, some were loans. Yes, there has been injuries. Yes, there’s a couple of duffers in there. But can it ALL be down to the fact that they are ALL really not clinical? I have my doubts. I’ve not even mentioned quite a few others who could have been on the ‘someone who can get goals’ list.

Why did we wait until injury time to have a go in the second half?

It was an improvement: My frame of reference this is only small with the opening day draw against Hartlepool (via the DAZN stream) the only other match I have seen in full, but many on the terrace at Braintree assured me that was the best we have looked. The stats back up that it was a game we just about dominated, except the most important stat, of course. The first 13 minutes were great, I was wondering what all the complaining was about, but after that Braintree started to get a foothold in the game. We were definitely better in the first half, but we started lacking control towards the end of it and when the goal arrived, it had been coming. So, an improvement from a low base, for sure. 

Plant and Sims a plus: For probably the first 20 minutes, James Plant looked electric and gave hope  he can bring a much needed creative spark. He tired as the game wore on, not surprising for a player who’s played 30 minutes of competitive football all season. Monday will almost certainly be too soon to put him in from the start again, but there’s reasons to be hopeful there. And, a more than honourable mention to Josh Sims. Who had him coming in to form on their 2025-26 season bingo card? I certainly didn’t, but he looked like the player we saw in flashes last season. Let’s hope he carries on that way.

Green shoots of hope from James Plant’s return to Huish Park? Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

A big miss which piles the pressure on: Accepting the cliches of their being no easy games at this level, Braintree is a side we have to be getting points from if we have any hope of improving on last season. When you factor in the amount of chances we had to put this game beyond doubt – and, yes, they had plenty of chances as well – this was a big missed opportunity to build on that win against Brackley. That puts even greater emphasis on Monday’s home match against Gateshead – Frank Nouble and all.

An uncomfortable sleep: Wake me up when September ends, right? Mark Cooper doesn’t even give himself that long, he’s said ten games is the time to make an assessment. Mark up Tamworth away on September 20th on the calendar. I had a couple of conversations in the away end yesterday with people saying it was too soon to be talking about him being under pressure, but this is not about four matches this season. To borrow a phrase from the manager himself, I’ve been consistent. 2022/23 basket case relegation = write it off as too much to deal with.  2023/24 promotion = success. 2024/25 18th place finish = failure. This is the season that Mark Cooper has to show he can improve us and, four games in, I don’t see or hear anything different to last season. There’s time to turn it around, but I have dwindling confidence he can do it. 

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The Glovers got their first three points of the season with the 2-1 victory over Brackley Town at Huish Park last night. Ian was back at Huish Park and here are his first five conclusions of the season.

It was important to get off the mark. The pressure was really on last night following the opening two matches and ultimately, the Glovers responded. A confidence-boosting goal for Josh Sims and a memorable first for Ben Wodskou in-front of the Thatchers was exactly what the supporters, players and manager needed to ease the pressure. With a weekend trip to Braintree, who got an impressive 3-0 win over Halifax at home on the opening day, but have since lost two on the bounce with red cards in both of those defeats, Yeovil have a chance to build a bit of momentum now.

Jed Ward during his pre-match warm up.
Jed Ward. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

We have Jed Ward to thank. The goalkeeper was certainly the busier of the two over the course of the evening, making a series of saves as Brackley Town peppered the glovers goal. Three matches in and Ward is proving to be an impressive bit of recruitment. Aside from the ropey short goal kicks, he didn’t put a foot wrong in between the sticks last night and without him, it probably would have been a different story.

Credit to Brackley. Pre-match, I wondered if we’d see the visitors dig in and frustrate but the opposite was true. They got on the ball and played some nice football, carving Yeovil apart at times. In the first half in particular, we struggled to deal with their direct running. I was really impressed with Morgan Roberts (their number 10) in the attacking midfield. He only had one thing on his mind every time he picked up the ball, get forward and cause problems, and he did from the first minute. Maybe it was the pressure, but in that first half, they looked like the team playing at home.

Harvey Greenslade. Picture by Gary Brown

Rotation paid off. There were four changes from Saturday’s dismal day at Forest Green and it showed. Harvey Greenslade was given the nod up front and his relentless running meant he was constantly putting pressure on the Brackley defenders. It was a shame he put his one chance over the bar when it fell to him, but I’d love to see more of Harvey. Kyle Ferguson stepped in for Jake Wannell and put in the type of performance we saw from him last season. The return of Brett McGavin from the start also meant we had a progressive midfielder with the ability to get us forward rather than the defensively-minded pairing of Charlie Cooper and Finn Cousin-Dawson. With games on Saturday and Bank Holiday Monday, we’re sure to see most of the squad this weekend.

We have to talk about the style. As brilliant as it was to get the three points (and stop talking about those cursed potatoes), it wasn’t the most inspiring night of football. That opening thirty minutes or so was dire. That is not a criticism of the players either, and clearly when Jed Ward realised it was working, he took responsibility on the pitch and sacked off the short goal kicks to cheers from the supporters. I don’t think we’re particularly dynamic in midfield and find it so frustrating when a visiting team comes to town and plays through us easily while we knock it about and struggle to make any meaningful openings. We’ve gone through change and brought in new players so some of that lack of cohesion is understandable, but we’re not an anomaly for that in the league. After all, what is pre-season for? I struggle to see an identity or attractive style of play, but hopefully the win will give us that confidence boost to play with a bit more freedom.

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The second game of the National League Premier Division season ended in a 2-0 defeat for Yeovil Town at the hands of Forest Green Rovers at The New Lawn. The scoreline belied the dominance of the home side who spurned numerous chances to make it a more emphatic defeat for the Glovers. Ed Turnbull was among the 486 fans who made the trip to Gloucestershire and here are his conclusions.

The better team won. Probably stating the obvious when you look at the statistics, but it felt like only a matter of time before Forest Green were going to score. Five shots (2 on target, 3 off target) to our zero at half time and more than double that come full time highlights how dominant they were. We just got deeper and deeper and it felt like we were playing with ten men at times, when they scored their first it was game over. 
 
Super Jed Ward in goal. We said before the game that with the all out attack which Robbie Savage has spoken about bringing, Jed Ward was going to need to have a solid return to the club he started last season at. Thankfully he did. It could have been far more without him, some good last ditch blocks from his defence and wayward shooting from Forest Green. It was a decent rearguard action for 75 minutes and against lesser opposition (and there will be plenty lesser than Forest Green this season) hopefully that will stand us in good stead.
 
Jed Ward during his pre-match warm up.
Jed Ward. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.
 

Two up top, but I’m not sure it worked. I was excited to see Aaron Jarvis get some company in the forward line in Tahvon Campbell, but surprised we tried it away to one of the strongest sides in the division. Forest Green found it too easy to get the ball forwards around us, with a lot of space behind the front two. For two big strikers, neither particularly held the ball up well which meant we struggled to keep the ball. I was not too surprised to see Campbell substituted at half-time. Mind you, it certainly was not any better when we switched to playing one up top in the second half. We talk a lot about shape, but for me it’s 11 players on the pitch either way, and it’s about how good they are more than the formation they play in.

Who wants that sack of spuds? If anyone wants the sack of potatoes being offered to our first goalscorer of the season, a good first step would be to find a way of getting possession in the attacking half. We managed it in second half against Hartlepool on the opening day, but in the other three 45 minutes of competitive football so far this season we’ve failed. I’d hoped Luke McCormick would be that player to put his foot on the ball higher up the pitch and provide that vital connection between defence and attack, but he hasn’t managed that so far. I would like to see if Brett McGavin can do any better from the start of a match. For me, as solid as they can be defensively, a midfield pair of Charlie Cooper and Finn Cousin-Dawson lacks that attacking quality and leaves our strikers looking so disjointed from the rest of the team.

There’s no need to panic. I hope this one goes without saying, but we are only two games in to the season. So far we’ve played two teams we’d expect to be up and around the promotion places come the end of the season. Yes, we’ve only got one point but that’s one more point than we got from these same two fixtures last season. The upcoming run of fixtures looks much kinder starting at home to Brackley Town at Huish Park on Wednesday night. It is a great opportunity to kick-start our season. Keep the faith!

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Josh Sims holds off a defender.

The first point is on the board, but finding the back of the net looks like it may still be an issue for Yeovil Town after the goalless opening day draw with Hartlepool United at Huish Park yesterday. Mike Hudson was among more than 3,000 Glovers’ fans who turn up for the stalemate and here are his conclusions on what he saw.

It was good to be back. After all the noise of pre-season, it was good to be back at Huish Park for a competitive fixture. The pitch looked stunning, if not a little small, as the sun shone down on the 3,239 Glovers fans (and the 199 away ones too). New owner Prabhu Srinivasan and Chief Strategy Advisor Nicholas Brayne could be seen walking around the stands and talking to fans before kick off, and the supporters were in good voice throughout the afternoon. As the ref got the opening day underway there was a sense of optimism in the Somerset air.

Josh Sims goes down under pressure from the goalkeeper.
Josh Sims takes a tumble during a difficult first half against Hartlepool. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

The first half was a bit iffy. Throughout the game Yeovil looked defensively solid, but it was pretty hard to put to figure out what our game plan was going forward, particularly in the first forty five. In the first five minutes there were a few moments when James Daly and Luke McCormick linked up nicely, but then the game really passed them by. There was no fluidity in attack, and with all the talent and pace on the pitch, our tactics seemed to nullify the strengths I was looking forward to seeing. There was a lot of direct play to Aaron Jarvis who had his back to goal most of the game. While his hold up play was great as usual, no-one in green and white was ever near enough to our number nine to capitalise. We didn’t work their keeper at all in the first half, and in truth Hartlepool, who kept a lot of possession, had a few chances as the break approached and could really have been ahead.

The second half was better. We seemed to start the second half with more intent and looked dangerous. The changes were interesting. Removing McCormick and Daly for Tahvon Campbell and Junior Morias made it look like we would need to play even more directly. However, I thought both players made an impact and looked lively when they came on. You feel if the late chance that fell at the feet of Ben Wodsku had come to either Morias or Campbell we may have stolen all three points. Unfortunately the youngster rather panicked and snatched at his shot. It was far from a fluid second half, but it was an improvement on the first.

Jed Ward holds a shot during pre-match warm up.
Jed Ward looks a good addition. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

Keep those potatoes on hold. After feeling before the game that he may have solved our goal-scoring issues, Mark Cooper may be reassessing. The sack of potatoes on offer to the first goal scorer of the season will remain the property of the greengrocer for now, as we try to figure out how to best utilise the players at our disposal. On a plus side, we did secure a clean sheet, and our back three looked mostly solid, with Jed Ward adding some calmness in goal. Our new keeper had one shaky moment in the first half, but was otherwise faultless and also showed his distribution quality when he launched a ‘fizzing’ kick for the pacy Byron Pendleton to run onto creating a dangerous moment for the home side. On balance, I’m not a fan of the training ground move, but it may just have secured us a real top quality keeper.

We’re off the mark. Yeovil are not known for their strong opening days, and coming up against a Hartlepool side managed by Simon Grayson, who we never seem to get the better off, was never going to be easy. We didn’t set the world ablaze, we didn’t quite put on a show at home, and on balance a point was probably a fair result. It did feel like a game that we would have lost last season, and there were moments on Saturday when we rode our luck against a team who may have similar ambitions to us this season. But overall, it’s not a bad start to proceedings. There are some reasons for positivity while also a number of things we will need to work on quickly. We have a point on the board, and a tricky first away trip to Forest Green to come. Onwards and upwards you Glovers.

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Pre-season is supposed to be a time for cautious optimism. New kits, fresh grass, a couple of trialists doing stepovers near the Thatchers (well as ‘near’ as possible on the pitch), and the hopeful thought that this might be our year. But at Yeovil, with just weeks to go before the season kicks off, there is a growing feeling that something is not quite adding up.

This blog does not attempt to discuss the playing style adopted under Mark Cooper; my own views on this are widely documented and there has been much discussion on the Gloverscast podcast and among supporters. So the focus of this post is on our preparedness for the coming season.

We have 15 contracted players, plus one on loan. But how many of them are actually part of the plan?

Squad Depth, or Lack of It

Let’s break it down.

Sixteen players are now listed, but not all are clearly part of the manager’s plans. Social media speculation continues to brew around the future of Aidan Stone, Josh Sims and Jacob Maddox. Matt Gould is registered as a player-coach, which says a lot in itself, especially considering he didn’t make a single appearance last season albeit he underwent surgery at some point. That realistically leaves just 12 players. TWELVE.

The goalkeeper situation has been unclear since February when, after becoming a becoming a stable part of the defensive unit, Ollie Wright was returned to Southampton in the aftermath of a shaky display in the 4-0 defeat at Rochdale. He popped up at Solihull Moors days later and will be plying his trade in the EFL with Accrington Stanley this season.

Will Buse, who signed permanently after a previous loan spell, went from number 1 choice to no squad number and persona-non-grata in the space of less than a season and is currently a free agent.

Yeovil Town goalkeeper Aidan Stone warming up ahead of the pre-season friendly with Bristol Rovers.
Yeovil Town number one Aidan Stone. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

Now, heading into the new season, Aidan Stone is the only senior goalkeeper in the squad. He was benched for the full 90 minutes in the recent pre-season game against Bristol Rovers with Bristol City keeper Josey Casa-Grande on trial in between the sticks. That raised eyebrows, especially given his recent signing and the lack of depth behind him and no official word from the club.

There is now a recognised right back in on loan in Byron Pendleton, which helps, but there is still limited depth in central midfield and very little width. Even allowing for a few trialists, this is still a thin group. The season is nearly here, and it still feels like a squad in flux.

“We are not just short on numbers, we are short on time. Even if players arrive tomorrow (or today), it could be October before we look like a functioning team.”

It’s Not Just About Having Players, It’s About Having a TEAM

The issue is not just numbers. It is time. Whoever we bring in now is arriving late to the party, and Cooper’s system is not one you master overnight.

He demands a lot. Discipline, shape, control. When it works, it looks solid. When it does not, it can be ponderous. And we’ve seen how it can take players weeks to adjust. So even if we suddenly pull four new signings out of a hat tomorrow, they will not be fully up to speed by the first few fixtures. Realistically, it could be October before we have anything like a fully functioning TEAM.

If results are not going our way by then, we will likely see more chopping and changing. More loans. More ins and outs. More resets. A team that never settles.

Is It Just a Mark Cooper Thing?

It is tempting to point the finger at the manager. After all, Cooper regularly says he has a preference for a small squads. But this small? This light? It is hard to believe this was the plan all along.

So what is going on?

Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper pictured speaking to the club's social media following the 3-2 pre-season friendly defeat to Cardiff City Under-21s.
Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper in a magnificent looking training top.

To be fair, the new owners did mean we lost time at the start of the summer. Transition periods always cost a couple of weeks, maybe more. But when the club talks about a “competitive budget”, we are left wondering what that actually means. Competitive for what? Top half? Mid-table? A relegation scrap?

And what role has the move to Bristol played in this?

Bristol Base: Attraction or Distraction?

The club has been keen to back Cooper’s vision, including moving training to the Bristol area. The idea was that it would help attract a better calibre of player. But has the manager’s vision actually weakened the playing budget?

On 22 July, the club tweeted:

“The club backed Mark’s vision to move training to Bristol and continues to support his work in the transfer market. The budgets for both the Bristol move and playing staff form part of the overall investment in the first-team operation.”

Is the same pot of money is now covering more things?

If part of the player budget is now funding travel expenses and training pitches, that raises the question. Are we weaker on the pitch because of a decision made off it?

The 3 Cs: Calmness, Competitiveness, Community

The new ownership under Prabhu Srinivasan has been clear about its values: Competitive. Calmness. Community. But let’s be honest, calmness will not last forever if supporters do not feel we are ready to compete.

There is no doubt that things are happening behind the scenes. But actions speak louder than words. At the moment, what fans are seeing, or not seeing, is creating anxiety. And you cannot blame them. After a decade of drama, promises only go so far.

We are not expecting signings for the sake of it. But people need reassurance. A sense of structure. A plan.

“How long can calmness last when key positions are unfilled, results aren’t in, and the fanbase is still waiting for something to believe in?”

Is This the Barnet Model?

Mark Cooper has previously hinted at following the Barnet model. A club that managed to climb the National League table over several seasons without a massive budget. The logic is sound: keep your core, build gradually, don’t overspend. And on the face of it, it worked for them.

Let’s look at how their journey played out:

  • 2020/21 – Finished 22nd, only avoided relegation due to COVID restructuring

  • 2021/22 – Improved slightly to 18th

  • 2022/23 – Big leap to 5th, reaching the play-offs

  • 2023/24 – Runners-up, 2nd place

  • 2024/25 – Finished 1st, promoted as champions

The parallels are obvious. In 2024/25, Yeovil finished 18th, just like Barnet did in 2021/22. So if we’re genuinely copying the Barnet model, the logic would suggest a jump to top 5 this season.

But is that realistic?

Barnet didn’t just get lucky. They kept a consistent core of players, had a defined playing style under Dean Brennan, and steadily added quality in key positions. They weren’t perfect, but they were organised, resilient, and gradually built a squad capable of competing at the top.

Right now, Yeovil seem some way off that. The core is unclear. Trialists are still hanging around. Key positions are still unfilled. And while the club speaks about “quality over quantity,” it’s hard to see the structure that made Barnet successful being replicated in time for the new season.

If we’re aiming to follow Barnet’s path, then 5th should be the minimum expectation. But to get there, Barnet had the stability, depth and direction. At the moment, Yeovil have questions, gaps and trialists.

A model is only useful if you’re resourced and ready to execute it. Otherwise, it’s just a reference point with no foundation.

Trying to Stay Balanced

Part of me wants to say ‘wait and be patient’. Let the season start and then judge Cooper and the board once we have seen the full picture.

But another part of me cannot shake the feeling that we are flying too close to the sun.

Yeovil Town owner Prabhu Srinivasan interviewed during a visit to Huish Park.
Yeovil Town owner Prabhu Srinivasan has promised supporters his focus is on – calmness, competitiveness and community. 

Fans do not need perfection. We gave up on that a long time ago. But they do need communication, visible progress, and a sense that the club is ready to compete at the right end of the table.

Because if we start slowly, and this squad looks like it might, how long will the calmness hold?

Conclusion: A Lot Still to Prove

There is no doubt that Mark Cooper has experience and knows how to organise a side. But right now, supporters are being asked to buy into a plan they cannot fully see.

We are told the budget is competitive, but it is unclear what that means in practice. We are told the Bristol training ground will help attract players, but we are still short in key areas. We are told we are following a model like Barnet’s, but the squad does not currently reflect that level of structure or stability.

Even the basic signs of progress are difficult to pin down. Last season’s home form was poor, and the team changed constantly. Players came in and out, systems were tweaked, and consistency never really took hold. As a result, momentum was always fragile, and performances never fully settled.

There is still time to strengthen. A few well-judged signings in the right places could change the mood quickly. But with the season fast approaching, calmness is not guaranteed to last.

Yeovil fans are not asking for miracles. They just want to see a team that looks ready to compete, a squad that is coherent, and leadership that builds belief. Right now, that belief is fragile.

If this is a rebuild, then it needs to start looking like one. Because the longer things stay vague and incomplete, the harder it becomes to keep the faith, and after the past ten years, supporters deserve more than another summer of uncertainty.

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Three more Cs can be added to cautious optimism I’ve felt since Prabhu Srinivasan and family took over at Huish Park. Competitive. Calmness. Community.

On a sweltering evening in the Alec Stock lounge, Glovers fans showed up in their numbers to hear from Prabhu, Bhavna, Stuart Robins, Nicholas Brayne and Mark Cooper.

Meet the owners evening at Huish Park. Courtesy of Mike Hudson

There was no bombastic statement of intent. The messaging around “no one hit wonder” season continued. Everything feels measured, rational and realistic. No over-promising and under-delivering. No granular detail was given, but clearly the priority is to return the stadium and land back into club ownership. Owning our home is important and that was clearly understood. The difference this time round, I felt, is that there’s a plan, even if the cards are being held close to the chest. There’s a dialogue with the council and meetings today. If I can throw another C in, collaboration is the only way this gets done smoothly and cleanly.

Calmness will, hopefully, transfer to the pitch. Mark Cooper, who quipped “it’s usually the owners who see off the manager”, had the handcuffs taken off yesterday and was able to start talking to players. He alluded to small squad of quality, supplemented by loans was the only way for the club and that he’d love to have a squad of 25 contracted players who all lived in Yeovil – but that it just wasn’t realistic at this time. He also addressed the training ground move citing injuries to Jake Wannell, Morgan Williams, Alex Whittle and Aaron Jarvis and that the players trained on grass once over a period of eight weeks because of waterlogged pitches. He didn’t describe the budget as the best, but said it would allow the club to be competitive. 

Mark Cooper at the meet the owners event. Courtesy of YTFC.

Nicholas Brayne, whose role at the club is as Chief Strategy Advisor, spoke well and in a way that I’ve not heard anyone at Yeovil Town talk in my time as a supporter. He declared that the club was open for business, urging local businesses and sponsors to come in and have a conversation. This was after a previous sponsor had said they had been priced out last season, because of an increase in pricing of a box and advertising hoardings costing nearly £20,000.

Prabhu, enjoying a Guinness, spoke of the energy he felt in the Thatcher’s Stand during the Sutton United fixture and how he wanted to stand in their rather than be confined to a box. He spoke fondly of the area and his visits to the Digby Tap in Sherborne. He mentioned how his son, Sahil (who was unable to attend due to visa issues) is a huge football fan and has been critical of how American ownership has impacted English football. What came through to me, was that this is a long-term project that could leave a lasting impact on the community of Yeovil and the surrounding areas. 

Prahbu Srinivasan at the meet the owners event. Courtesy of YTFC.

After the trauma of the last five years, you cannot blame any Yeovil supporter for feeling trepidation, suspicion and unease. We have been through the wringer, gas lit by successive ownerships with a chaotic stewardship in the middle of it. But, for the first time in a long time, it feels like we have professionalism, a vision and a strategy for the football club. Right now it’s mostly words, but we are starting to the see actions. Key to it all though, getting it right on the pitch. Now, let’s sign some players.

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Yeovil Town Football Club’s decision to relocate their first-team training operations to the SGS Wise Campus in Bristol ahead of the upcoming season evokes mixed reactions among the Glovers’ faithful. While rooted in practicality and ambition, it also raises concerns about the club’s long-term commitment to Yeovil and the community.

Reasons Behind the Move

Former chairman Martin Hellier highlighted reasons of the decision when he commented on the club’s Facebook announcement post, he mentions the inadequacies of the Alvington facility. Poor drainage leading to injuries and ongoing local political disputes significantly restricted effective usage, making Alvington unsuitable for professional football standards. Hellier’s stance emphasises an urgent need to upgrade facilities, something the SGS Wise Campus unquestionably provides.



Advantages of the SGS Wise Campus

The benefits of the SGS Wise Campus are considerable. It offers world-class facilities, critical for attracting talented players from further afield, including areas such as the Midlands, London, and Wales. This broader geographic recruitment reach, potentially enhancing the squad’s overall quality and hopefully for us fans competitiveness.

The Football Stadium Pitch at the SGS Wise Campus in Bristol.

Additionally, SGS’s indoor and outdoor facilities ensure uninterrupted training, eliminating frustrations caused by weather conditions that often disrupted sessions at Alvington. SGS’s facilities include

  • FIFA & RFU-approved 3G football stadium pitch (100 seats)

  • Multiple grass pitches for football and rugby

  • 8-lane Olympic-standard athletics track with full jumping facilities

  • Indoor sports hall for netball, basketball, futsal, handball (750-seat capacity for big events)

  • Indoor 3G Astro turf (60 × 40 m) – divisible into two pitches

  • 40-station gym with weight room and performance lab

Potential Drawbacks

Despite the obvious advantages, significant concerns persist. A major issue is the physical separation between the first team and the newly formed Under-19 National League squad. Traditionally, successful clubs foster close integration between youth setups and senior teams. This relocation risks weakening that critical link, potentially affecting player development.

Questions also arise about why closer facilities, such as Millfield School, Sherborne School, or King’s Bruton, weren’t prioritised. Although schools might understandably hesitate to accommodate professional sports teams, the club’s transparency regarding any negotiations remains limited, leaving supporters unsure whether local options were thoroughly explored.

Historical Context and Infrastructure

This decision reflects long-standing frustrations regarding infrastructure investment. Despite Yeovil Town’s spell in the Championship and EFL, significant improvements, especially in training facilities, never fully materialised. Persistent stagnation around Huish Park, despite investment from individuals including Hellier, has driven this necessity for short-term solutions, potentially exacerbating community disconnect in the long term.

Community and Economic Impact

Economic and community implications must be carefully considered. The relocation may divert significant economic benefits away from Yeovil. Players and staff based in Bristol naturally spend less locally, impacting businesses that historically benefited from their presence. Sponsorship dynamics and community activities might also suffer, weakening the club’s local integration.

Despite assurances of continued community engagement through local festivals and school visits, the genuine day-to-day interactions that build deep local bonds, such as casual meetings and spontaneous community appearances, are difficult to maintain authentically from afar. Players might risk becoming distant figures rather than accessible local heroes.

It is worth knowing SGS stands for South Gloucestershire and Stroud College.

Practical Challenges

Current players or staff who live in Yeovil or further south may feel inconvenienced by the increased travel distances, potentially impacting their morale or commitment to the club. This added strain could even lead some individuals to consider leaving the club altogether due to these logistical challenges. Additionally, the practicalities of Bristol’s Clean Air Zone pose a potential financial burden for commuting players unless they fully relocate. Increased commuting costs and logistical complexities might lead to further unintended issues.

Potential Local Collaborations

Exploring strategic partnerships with institutions like Millfield School, renowned for elite sporting facilities and development programmes, might offer a sustainable, locally-rooted solution. Leveraging such resources could maintain Yeovil’s identity while enhancing competitive standards and helping the academy establish its roots. More details on Millfield’s facilities can be found here: Premier League Private Schools and Millfield School Telegraph Article.

Long-Term Strategy Needed

Ultimately, the relocation signals clear professional ambition and addresses immediate infrastructure issues effectively. However, without a transparent long-term strategy aimed at returning operations closer to home, the club risks longer-term alienation from its community roots.

The first-team squad in training Alvington

Yeovil supporters rightly expect clear communication regarding future intentions. They understand professional progression’s necessity but need reassurance that community connectivity and local identity remain central to the club’s long-term vision. Balancing immediate professional needs with preserving Yeovil’s community spirit and identity will be essential moving forward. We know the new owners have only just got their feet in the door and the decision was made before their ownership began, so information about the long term may already be in the works. However, if this could be communicated transparently moving forward, it would be greatly appreciated.

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The era of uncertainty is over. The new owners of Yeovil Town Football club are the Srinivasan family. So what do we make of that?

Well, it’s hard to make too much of it beyond the statement issued by the club confirming the takeover has been completed. That promised “a bright and sustainable future for the club” and there is no-one with green-and-white flowing through their veins who does not want that.

This is the fourth ownership/stewardship group we have had in charge since the departure of Norman Hayward and John Fry back in September 2019. Since then we have had (NAME REDACTED), the on-off ‘stewardship’ of SU Glovers and now-York City owner Matt Uggla, the most recent incumbent Martin Hellier and now Prabhu Srinivasan, the Dubai-based businessman who has take over alongside his son, Sahil, and wife, Bhavana.

We are sure we join with every supporter in welcoming them to Huish Park and saying we wish them a long and successful time in the Huish Park boardroom.

The support is there. That was never in doubt.

As with all those who are in charge of our club, we must judge them on their actions and not their words. We said that about Martin Hellier’s takeover two years ago and we say it again now. In his own words, the previous owner had a spell in charge which was “somewhat tumultuous in terms of public relations” and there are lessons to be learnt there. The initial statement suggests the new ownership will meet with supporters early in his tenure and that is warmly welcomed.

To own a football club you need a thick skin. There were good times under Martin Hellier’s reign and we will never forget the season where we bounced back from our lowest ebb, but no challenge (and football club ownership is undoubtedly that) is without its adversity. It’s not always going to be positive, that is just a reality, but if the new ownership approaches a fan base with a willingness to engage and a plan for a bright and sustainable future, they will find  support from this supporter base.

The ‘to do list’ is a long one. On the pitch, a retained/released list, a squad to build for next season in the National League Premier and off it perhaps an even greater task. The ownership of land around Huish Park remains a major concern with the exclusive buy-back option on the land due to expire in little under 12 months time and the club’s finances significantly in the red.

So, welcome Prabhu, we look forward to a sustainable and bright future under your ownership. Up the Gloves!

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That’s that then? Yeovil Town’s season concluded with a 2-1 defeat at Aldershot Town on Bank Holiday Monday and Mike Hudson was among the 575 travelling supporters in the away end in Hampshire and here are his thoughts.

 We should have been ahead. If ever forty five minutes of football typified a season, then the first half was just that. How many times have we, or manager Mark Cooper, talked about the fact we should have been ahead in games this campaign? There were at least three glorious chances in the first half, one of them falling to Lewys Twamley and the other two to Ciaran McGuckin. At least one of those had to find the back of the net. We haven’t scored enough goals this season, and that cost us again on Monday.

Lewys Twamley drags his effort wide after 17 minutes – the first of three gilt-edged chances for Yeovil to pull ahead.

We were punished. Two Aldershot Town goals either side of the break made it a tall task for Yeovil at The EBB Stadium. They were both awful goals to concede in truth. The first came from us having the ball on the edge of Aldershot’s area, but after a host of players refused to cross the ball into the box or take a shot, eventually we ended up passing the ball to our opposition. From being in an attacking area, a few seconds later we found ourselves light at the back as Aldershot broke and scored. The second goal wasn’t much better either. We allowed Dejan Tetek to cut through the middle of our midfield relatively unchallenged, and a few passes later the ball ended up in the back of the net again.

Jack Barham opens the scoring for Aldershot.

The fans showed up in numbers. Considering Bank Holiday Monday was the definition of a dead rubber game, it was great that so many Yeovil fans made the trip to Aldershot (it’s just a shame one of them didn’t bring a lawn mower…). Those in the away end sung their hearts out throughout the ninety minutes. Even when the game wasn’t offering much to sing about, the noise was great. Watching Pete run from one side of the stand to the other to rouse supporters was like watching a great orchestral conductor at work! I’m not sure if the mystery third party bidders were at the game, but if they were, it was another reminder of the remarkable fanbase and potential this great club has.

On that note, all attention now turns off field. In recent years Huish Park has had more leaks than the Titanic when it comes to off field gossip. However, the rumour mill has been fairly subdued since Martin Hellier announced he would be selling the club. Most of us have assumed work has been going on in the background to make that change of ownership a reality, and it was good to get a short update from Stuart Robins telling us as much. Our chairman was understandably reluctant to offer any definitive timelines, but it’s clear that the sooner a sale can happen, and we can start planning for next season, the better. Of course until we know who the mystery third party is, and what their plans are for the club, we can only be cautiously optimistic.

Interim chairman Stuart Robins speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah.

It’s over for now. When the referee blew the final whistle to bring the game, and season, to an end, it gave us all an opportunity to look back and reflect on the season as we headed back to the South West. On paper, survival in our first attempt back at this level is good enough and in reality that still remains the case. There have been some good moments along the way too. However, I think the poor home form, some awful cup appearances, the high number of player turnover, and the off field shenanigans have left me feeling slightly subdued in my celebrations (losing the last three games probably doesn’t help!). Finishing four points above the safety line is a closer shave than I would have liked, although in truth we’ve been comfortable for a few weeks. Last season we finished fourteen points above Braintree, however this year we could only match their points tally. Tamworth ended up finishing as the highest newly promoted side, and Boston finished the season in staggering form having once looked doomed to relegation. We did what we needed to do this season, but we will need to do things differently next year to keep the club heading in the right direction. Hopefully, the ownership situation will be sorted before long and we can all start getting excited about having a real go of it when we kick things off in August. Enjoy the summer!

The Thatcher’s End. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.