Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 2)

Yeovil Town Women have had their division and opponents confirmed for the 2025/26 season following the FA’s League Allocations were released.

Like last year the Glovers will play in the South West Regional Football League – Divison 1 South.

This is the equivalent of Tier 6 in the Women’s game.

Some new opponents this season including Appledore – which sounds like a dessert Harry Potter might eat – Banwell and Wells City.

Fixture specifics, dates, venues and all that jazz will follow in time.

Defender Jake Wannell and midfielder Charlie Cooper have both committed their futures to Yeovil Town.

However, midfielder Harry Kite and defender Michael Smith have both followed Sonny Blu Lo Everton in confirming that they will not be returning to Huish Park next season.

The club confirmed it is in talks with a number of other players including defenders Alex Whittle, Dom Bernard and Marcel Lavinier about new contracts after their deals expired.

In an official statement posted on Tuesday afternoon, it said Wannell had “agreed terms to extend his stay at Huish Park” with no details around the length of the new deal, and added that Cooper had “activated a clause in his contract” to stay for next season.

In the statement, the club listed Kite, who joined the club on a short-term deal at the end of last season as he looked to rebuild his fitness after a serious injury, as one of those in “ongoing conversations” with manager Mark Cooper.

However, in a post on his own social media, the former Exeter City man said: “Would like to thank @YTFC for the last few months. It’s been short but sweet! Wishing you all the best next season and beyond!

Smith followed suit with his own farewell confirming the end of two seasons which saw him collect a National League South champions’ medal to his collection during the 2023/24 campaign.

Michael Smith says goodbye as well.

The statement also lists goalkeeper Will Buse, who spent last season on loan at relegated W*ymouth, and little seen midfielder Caleb Hughes among those in talks with the manager.

Kite and Smith’s confirmations that they will not be returning next season follows hot on the heels of a similar confirmation by Lo Everton that his two-year spell at the club has ended.

The 22-year-old posted on his Twitter/X channel to confirm he had left the club before the club had published its retained and released list of players.

In the post, Sonny said: “Just wanted to say thank you to @YTFC for the past 2 years, would have loved to carry on and make more memories but that’s football. I’ve had some really good times and met some unbelievable people.  Massive thanks to the fans who support home and away, and for the supporters Player of the Season.

The club has also confirmed players who remain under contract  from last season with the club as goalkeepers Aidan Stone and Matt Gould, defenders Morgan WilliamsFinn Cousin-Dawson and Jordan Thomas, who spent much of last season on loan at National League South side Torquay United. Midfielders Brett McGavinJacob Maddox, Josh Sims and Lewys Twamley also remain under contract along with strikers Harvey Greenslade and Aaron Jarvis.

Midfielder Sonny Blu Lo-Everton has announced he has ended his time as a Yeovil Town player in a post on his social media.

The 22-year-old posted on his Twitter/X channel to confirm he had left the club before the club has published its retained and released list of players.

In the post, Sonny said: “Just wanted to say thank you to @YTFC for the past 2 years, would have loved to carry on and make more memories but that’s football. I’ve had some really good times and met some unbelievable people.  Massive thanks to the fans who support home and away, and for the supporters Player of the Season.

A huge thankyou to Sonny for everything he has done in green-and-white.

Tickets for Yeovil Town’s pre-season friendly against Weston-super-Mare are now on sale.

The Glovers head to the Optima Stadium on Saturday 2nd August 2025 for a 3pm kick-off.

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

Prices are as follows: 
Adults – £11 (+ 0.55p fee)
Concessions – £8 (+ 0.50p fee) [Over 60s, Student ID, Armed Forces ID, NHS ID.]
14-17 year olds – £4 (+ 0.50p fee)
9-13 Year Old – £3 (+ 0.50p fee) [Must be accompanied by an adult]
Under 8s – FREE – [Must be accompanied by an adult]
Family Ticket – £23 (+£1.15 fee) [2x Adults and 2x Under 13]

On Match Day, prices increase to;
Adult – £12
Concession (Senior 60+, Student ID, Armed Forces ID, NHS ID) – £9
14-17 Year Old – £5
9-13 Year Old (Must be accompanied by an Adult) – £3.50
Under 8s (Must be accompanied by an Adult) – Free
Family (x2 Adults & x2 Under 13s) – £25


Tickets are also on sale for the Glovers friendly game at Chippenham – CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

It might all be a bit of hot air, and there’s every chance it all blows over, but Yeovil Town have been linked with striker James Gale.

Sports Journalist Pete O’Rourke has suggested that the Mansfield Town forward has a number of contract offers on the table, including from Gateshead, Altrincham, Aldershot… and the Glovers.

Gale does have another year on his contract at the Stags, having extended his deal in the summer of 2024, so a fee could well be involved if any move were to come to fruition.

He scored six goals in 30 games in the National League in the season just gone, he spent time at both Boston and Solihull on loan, but oddly, missed both games against Yeovil when his sides headed to Huish Park.

How true any of this is, we have no idea, but it’s nice to fill the summer void with a little bit of transfer rumour and speculation, isn’t it?

The Green & White Supporters’ Club is asking whether Yeovil Town fans would be interested in travel to the opening pre-season friendly at Exmouth Town.

The Glovers travel to face the Southern League Division One South side on Saturday 5th July, 3pm kick-off.

If you are interested in travelling, please send a message to Paul Hadlow on 07736 044570.

 

New Yeovil Town owner Prabhu Srinivasan has told the club’s supporters he is targeting getting the club back to the Football League.

In an open letter published on the club’s website, the Dubai-based businessman said he would support these ambitions with “a larger budget than they have received over the past few seasons.”

He spoke of his desire to provide “steady and sustainable leadership” echoing comments made by executive chairman Stuart Robins this week that the takeover did not been the club would be bankrolled like the multi-millionaire owners which have overseen Wrexham’s rise.

In the open letter, Srinivasan said: “Like you, we are excited about the future. We will now start a period of development both on and off the pitch. In short, we want to put the businesses on a stronger financial footing. We understand that we need to invest to get the club to where we believe it should be. We are delighted to support the team on the pitch with a larger budget than they have received over the past few seasons.

Let me be clear – we want to see the team promoted back to where it belongs, the EFL. That said, we are fully aware of how competitive the National League is and that the main priority is the long-term viability of the club.

Prabhu Srinivasan, the new chairman and owner of Yeovil Town – yes, this is the best picture of him we can find at the moment!

He also set out his ambition to strengthen bonds between the club and the local community and confirmed he would attend an open evening to meet supporters at Huish Park on e can also answer any questions you have. We have scheduled the event for Thursday, 12thJune at 7.30pm.

An open letter fromPrabhu Srinivasan – in full

Dear Fellow Glovers,

As you might be aware, our family office, Inflection Holdings, has purchased Yeovil Town Football Club. We are delighted to announce this transition in ownership, marking a transformative chapter in the club’s history. 

We want to make a clear promise: we will work tirelessly for the values of this incredible club. Like you all, we want success on the pitch, but service to the community is equally important. You never truly own a football club; we are merely the custodians with a responsibility to provide steady and sustainable leadership for the foreseeable future.

As the famous Glovers song goes…

“A sign of a true supporter is the colour of their heart. 

Day or night we will be green and white…”

First, a note of gratitude. We want to thank Stuart Robins for agreeing to come in as the club’s Executive Chairman and joining our investment team. Stuart has done a remarkable job in his short time in a leadership role; he is a tremendous asset to our cause and a true servant of the club.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Martin and Jack Hellier for a swift and smooth transition.

There has been much written about the situation at Huish Park over the last few weeks. With the transition complete, I would like to share with you, our treasured fans, a little about who we are and what we have planned.

Me and my family…

I have over 30 years of experience in banking, retail, technology, travel, real estate, e-waste and wellness. More importantly, I have built one of the largest multi-sports youth platforms in India and the Middle East. My wife, Bhavna, is a seasoned leadership coach and business strategist, widely recognised for her contributions to entrepreneurship and wellness integration. 

Our son Sahil’s core passion is football. He has cultivated extensive football expertise, having trained in Spain, Germany, the UK & UAE under prestigious league clubs. He has designed proprietary programmes for youth training. His academic focus in sports science at New York University strengthens his deep understanding of football analytics and strategy. We now reside in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.

Why we fell in love with the club…

The potential, size, history and uniqueness of this club is fantastic. We truly believe Yeovil is a special club in the most wonderful part of England. I quickly fell in love with the area. On my first visit I had the real pleasure of visiting local landmarks, including walks in Montacute House’s garden, a concert in Sherborne Abbey and viewing the rolling countryside. When you live in a desert, it’s nice to see green grass!

But above all, we appreciated the dedication and skill of the team working at the club. Behind the scenes, a small, dedicated team works tirelessly to deliver for our players and fans. We hugely look forward to working with them.

Finally – and most importantly – you the fans! I attended the last home game of the season against Sutton United. The club had kindly offered me a seat in the Tam Main Stand, but I couldn’t resist joining the vocal fans in the Thatcher’s End. I just loved bouncing around with you, despite the result. In that short interaction, you made a ‘stranger’ feel very welcome.

Looking forward…

Like you, we are excited about the future. We will now start a period of development both on and off the pitch. In short, we want to put the businesses on a stronger financial footing. We understand that we need to invest to get the club to where we believe it should be. We are delighted to support the team on the pitch with a larger budget than they have received over the past few seasons.

Let me be clear – we want to see the team promoted back to where it belongs, the EFL. That said, we are fully aware of how competitive the National League is and that the main priority is the long-term viability of the club.

Together a Team…

We are ready to work hard, be innovative and show determination to improve all aspects of the club in the coming years. We will always be honest and transparent with you. We want to foster a close and trusted relationship with you where you feel comfortable sharing your concerns and ideas.

We want to invite you to Huish Park for a meet the owner’s event. This will be an informal evening, where we can meet and chat through ideas. We can also answer any questions you have. We have scheduled the event for Thursday, 12thJune at 7.30pm in the Glovers Lounge at Huish Park. More details on ticketing for the event will be released next week.

What we ask of you…

The best way to show your support is to ensure you are with us at every home match next season! We have prolonged the chance for fans to buy season tickets at early bird prices. By purchasing your season tickets, you make a massive contribution to the club and ensure we ‘pack the park’. Let’s make Huish Park a fortress next season!

Our commitment to you…

We are committed to delivering success for you, our amazing supporters, key stakeholders, and the wider Yeovil community. We are here for the long haul. We want to build a legacy for the local community that we can all be proud of. Your support means the world to this football club, and we are counting on it as we look ahead to the new season.

We are all in this together

New Yeovil Town owner Prabhu Srinivasan wants to  bring the community of South Somerset closer to the football club, according to executive chairman Stuart Robins.

The Dubai-based businessman completed his takeover of the club through his holding company Inflection Holdings from former owner Martin Hellier on Thursday after what Robins described as “a hard, long negotiation.

Speaking for the first time since the takeover was announced, he told BBC Somerset reporter Jack Killah the reason why he had backed the deal with the Indian businessman.

Robins said: “I have had so many conversations with different suitors actually before Martin made his announcement. What was exciting about Prabhu and his family was that it was not just about the football club, it was about the whole community. When I got to know Prabhu, I got to find out about the community-related activities that he has been instrumental in. Because this is so dear to my heart and, as people know, I love this place and the club.

It was important to me as a Yeovil boy that it was not just about someone who wanted to come in and be part of a famous football club, it was someone who wanted to make sure we could build Yeovil Town as part of the community and make it more inclusive for everybody and I think that is what Prabhu brings.

Prabhu Srinivasan, the new chairman and owner of Yeovil Town – yes, this is the best picture of him we can find at the moment!

Who is Prabhu Srinivasan?

The club director, who joined the club’s board under the ownership of former chairman (NAME REDACTED) in May 2022, said that the new owner would be visiting Huish Park in the coming weeks with the club promising a ‘Meet the Owner’ night for fans.

He spoke about Srinivasan’s previous success in building community initiatives in his native India and his adopted home in the Middle East. He co-founded KOOH (Kids Out Of Home) Sports  in 2010 as an organisation which runs sports curriculum activities with schools across India funded by invested raised from private investors. You can read more about KOOH Sports in an article in Forbes India admittedly from 2016 – click here.

The businessman’s profile on professional networking website LinkedIn describes him as “a multi-faceted corporate thought leader and entrepreneur with over 28 years of multi-sector global experience in integrating strategy and operations to deliver outstanding stakeholder value.” To be honest, we’re not really sure what that means, but clearly it is a description not written with a footballing audience in mind.

It goes on to give his career highlights as being involved in 20 mergers and acquisitions (maybe 21 now!) with a number of major global investment firms, heading companies across the world employing up to 30,000 people, and describes him as “a serial entrepreneur” having been involved in businesses involved in sports (see KOOH Sports, above), e-waste management and  sustainable packaging.

Does this add up to multi-millionaire status? The truth is we do not really know, but Robins’ comments about “not doing a Wrexham would suggest not to get too carried away about a massive chequebook.

Asked about the new owner’s ambition and past history in sports, Robins added: “I do not want to steal Prabhu’s thunder because he will go in to much more detail when he comes over, but one thing that drew me to him was that his whole motivation in his (previous ventures in the Middle East and India) were to ensure his son Sahil was not stuck in front of a computer all day.

He wanted to use the wealth and experience he has accumulated to make sure children were able to get out and play support and I am really pleased he is really interested in football because it gives us such a great opportunity.

Prabhu and his advisors had done their research and they had seen there was a good opportunity to make a difference. We have gone through some difficult times since we were in the Championship (in 2013) and it has been a rapid decline, but we are now back on the way up. It is an opportunity to be involved in that.

Whenever a new owner comes in, it is a new start and a new opportunity, I would not say it was a rebuild, but it is an opportunity to build bigger and better.

New Yeovil Town executive chairman Stuart Robins has said the club will have “a sensible budget” for next season following the takeover by Dubai-based businessman Prabhu Srinivasan.

In his first media interview since news of the deal to buy out former owner Martin Hellier on Thursday, the director admitted the Glovers had fallen behind a number of their National League Premier Division rivals in preparing for next season.

But, he promised they would now be going “full throttle” to support manager Mark Cooper in his preparations.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah on Friday, he also confirmed that a number of banning orders handed out for making “negative comments and remarks” about the former owner have been rescinded.

Robins said: “We have been working hard behind the scenes to make sure we can have a sensible budget. Since I joined the club three years ago, I have always had a vision that we could build something sustainable and I remember in my first interview I used the word ‘sustainable’ and it is really important that we build properly and sensibly. We are not going to do things overnight, we are not going to do a Wrexham, but we are finalising our budgets to make sure we build sensibly.”

Yeovil Town executive chairman Stuart Robins.

Yeovil are among only a handful of professional clubs not to confirm which members of last season’s playing staff will be retained and released and Robins said that the protracted negotiations around the takeover had led to them being behind the curve.

He said: “It has been a hiatus and it has been difficult for Mark and the coaching team to do any planning because of the situation we were in. We are a little behind the A ball and I feel for Mark, but now we will be going full throttle. It has been difficult for everybody, the uncertainty that surrounds a change of ownership is huge whether it is a football club or a business and lots of people have had to live through it and it was no fun. But people worked so hard to get this over the line and get rid of this uncertainty, I have not spoken to Mark this morning but I will be having a chat with him this afternoon and I would imagine he is incredibly relieved it is done and we can now give him the tools to make sure we are successful on the pitch.

Asked whether he expected to receive a list of players Cooper would like to bring to the club, the executive chairman added: “I would imagine he has got it ready and I would not be surprised if it is in my email inbox now!

Speaking about the banning orders, he was keen to focus on the future, but admitted that four supporters banned from Huish Park for their comments had been contacted by the club.

He added: “Those four banning orders have been rescinded already, they received letters from me (on Thursday) evening. That is probably all I want to say about the past because I want to look to the future because I am excited about the future. I have said before and Prabhu shares the vision, I believe we should be a League One or League Two club, that is where Yeovil Town deserves to be. I am not going to give a timescale but that is what we are building towards.”