Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 288)

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Well that was a weekend huh? Martin Hellier completed his takeover of everything YTFC, ridding Yeovil of Scott Priestnall once and for all.

On this episode of the podcast, Ian, Ben and Dave talk about the meeting of supporters on Thursday, the prior announcement, the resulting fallout and Saturday morning’s breaking news.

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We’d love to welcome some local businesses into the Gloverscast family through advertising. If you’re a business that would like to speak to a dedicated audience of more than 1000 monthly listeners, please get in touch. Find out more about advertising with us here.

If you have an idea for the website, want to contribute or just want to send us a message, feel free to email ian@gloverscast.co.uk.

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Local firm Bamfords have been announced as the new sponsor of the Main Stand at Huish Park by new club owner Martin Hellier.

The chairman, who announced yesterday that he had completed his acquisition of the majority shareholding held by Scott Priestnall, announced the deal on his Twitter on Sunday.

He posted: “Hitting the ground running. Pleased to announce Bamfords as the Huish Park new main stand sponsors for the 23/24 season. Official announcement to follow through in due course.”

The new sponsor’s website describes the business as: “With over 30 years experience, we are Somerset’s premier provider of both commercial and domestic plumbing, heating, electric and renewable energy services.”

Bamfords would appear to be replacing the new owner’s business, Hellier Group, as sponsor of the Main Stand. It signed a three-year contract in September 2022.

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Marcus Fysh, Yeovil’s MP, has released a statement congratulating the club’s new owner Martin Hellier on his acquisition of Yeovil Town, and say he is ‘seeking a meeting’ and provided a list of questions he would like answers to. I’m left wondering where was this public list of questions was to our previous owner when all this started happening?

The MP arrived at Johnson Park during the Supporters’ Meeting on Thursday as it was wrapping up and stayed around to speak to some of his constituents and the media.

Here’s his full statement:

Congratulations to the new owners of YTFC who have the chance and responsibility to build a football club that can progress up the leagues, provide great football to follow and inspire youth football across our area.

It has been a difficult few years as results going the wrong way have meant falling revenues in the lower leagues. Emergency help for National League clubs was required when fans were not able to attend during the pandemic and I was instrumental in securing that national government loan scheme to stop the club from going under.

Without owner subsidies it has always been the case that business aspects of Yeovil Town have been required to support the club’s football. This was true in the Championship and it is true now.

Development of the ground is controversial for some but an opportunity to garner the income required to sustain a proper footballing structure as the club rebuilds. The club sought development for this purpose since 2014 but was continually knocked back by the Council until the Council got involved financially through the stadium sale and leaseback.

Football clubs are private businesses and the deals they do are for the parties to be responsible. However the arrangements since the end of last year ended up complicating the football at a crucial time and it is a shame the financing flexibility the Club got from its involvement with public bodies didn’t translate into on field success.

I am seeking a meeting with the new owners of the Club, and the questions I will be asking – similar to those I have been asking all the previous owners and parties they have looked at dealing with – include:

  • What is the footballing structure that you will be seeking to implement and who will you be working with to help deliver that?
  • What are the shares of operational and capital income from development that will accrue to the football club for the purposes of maintaining the footballing structure and the stadium and ground and staff? Will the Council or any related parties have any income share?
  • What is the nature of the income from development or operation of developed properties that will accrue to Yeovil town for its footballing purposes?
  • Will there be conference and entertainment facilities that can maximise income from the ground itself including for large scale events?
  • What accommodation facilities if any will be made available for visitors on site and what hospitality revenue might accrue for footballing purposes as a result?
  • What revenue is expected from these sources in each of the next five years, and what is the plan if they don’t materialise?
  • Have any sale and lease back liabilities or options been fully discharged and or exercised on completion of the purchase of Yeovil Town?
  • Have the pandemic loans been discharged as part of the purchase and is there any other debt outstanding?
  • Have any assurances been given by South Somerset District or Somerset Council as to different types or schemes of development being allowed?
  • Has Yeovil town Holdings Ltd itself been purchased or is there another structure that those interested in the future of the football club should be aware of?
  • What is the plan to develop youth football in Yeovil now that the club has lost Academy status and will you work with me to find ways of ensuring a thriving youth football scene in Yeovil?
  • What assurances can you give to the staff and team at Yeovil town about their security of employment?
  • What arrangements will you make to ensure that there is a high quality board of directors which can plan and execute for high quality football and high quality business off the pitch?
  • Will you commit to having at least one board director to represent the fans and at least one board director whose role is to work with that other director and fans to increase positive fan engagement using all available modern techniques?
  • Will you investigate and report on whether there have been any questionable practices in the past in respect of the Club’s dealings and will you ensure that there is full transparency of all dealings with Councils, third parties and other public bodies in the future?
  • Will you commit to regular Board reports that give information about the footballing and non-footballing business of the Club so that fans can be engaged on the basis of fact rather than rumour?

I very much hope that today turns the page on a successful new chapter for Yeovil Town Football Club and that we will all be able to get behind them.

If you want to the reaction to his post, head to his facebook page here.

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The Glovers’ Trust has issued a statement welcoming the takeover of Yeovil Town by new owner and chairman Martin Hellier.

The group said the relief at the departure of former owner Scott Priestnall was “immeasurable” and welcomed the takeover by the local businessman with “cautious optimism“.

In a statement on Saturday morning, the new owner confirmed that the takeover included the majority shareholding previously held by Priestnall in both the club’s trading business, Yeovil Football & Athletic Club, and Yeovil Town Holdings, the company which has the exclusive buy-back on land at Huish Park.

The Glovers’ Trust said: “We cannot stress enough that any situation where Priestnall retained control or ownership of any part of the club or land would be untenable.

“The all supporters’ meeting on Thursday night was a landmark moment in the recent history of our club. It highlighted the extent of the distrust between the club and its core fan  base, and an overwhelming support for the long-term goal of supporter ownership and democratic representation inside the club.”

The Trust added that it looked forward to having a “constructive dialogue” with the chairman adding: “There is a long way to go for Mr Hellier to rebuild that trust and regain the respect of some supporters after a series of regrettable public arguments, but in the interests of the football club we believe he must be afforded the time and space to do this.”

 

The Glovers Trust statement – in full:

The Glovers’ Trust statement from Martin Hellier and the Hellier Group as a step towards safeguarding the future of Yeovil Town FC.

It is welcome news that the football club and holding company have been purchased, with the option to buy back the land at Huish Park. Hellier’s commitment to re-unifying the two companies and running the club for the “well-being and progression of our community” undoubtedly aligns with most supporters’ wishes.

Our relief at the end of Scott Priestnall’s tenure is immeasurable, and as supporters we welcome this takeover with cautious optimism. We cannot stress enough that any situation where Priestnall retained control or ownership of any part of the club or land would be untenable.

The all-supporters meeting on Thursday night was a landmark moment in the recent history of our club. It highlighted the extent of the distrust between the club and its core fan base, and an overwhelming support for the long-term goal of supporter ownership and democratic representation inside the club.

We look forward to meeting with Mr Hellier, to represent the fans and begin constructive dialogue.

There is a long way to go for Mr Hellier to rebuild that trust and regain the respect of some supporters after a series of regrettable public arguments, but in the interests of the football club we believe he must be afforded the time and space to do this.

There is only one Yeovil Town Football Club and only one supporters trust. We look forward to working with Trust members, fans and the new ownership, towards building a successful, prosperous football club that we can all be proud of.

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It’s been a long, largely unhappy journey, but the reign of Scott Priestnall as owner and chairman of Yeovil Town is over.

There are undoubtedly things we don’t know, or more to the point have not been told, about the whole saga over the past three years, but there is no doubting the club is in a far worse state than when he arrived in 2019.

From a club admittedly on a decline having dropped out of the Football League, we have gone from one which had a relatively stable (in football club terms, at least) balance sheet to one which is a tenant in its own stadium with debts of seven figures and will play next season in regional football.

In short, the reign of Scott Priestnall is a stain on the history books of Yeovil Town and one which cannot be forgiven or forgotten.

But, looking forward, we now have a new chairman, a new owner and a new direction under Martin Hellier. His statement announcing the takeover is wonderfully theatrical and says absolutely everything a Yeovil Town supporter would want to hear about the future on and off the field.

The message to Mr Hellier is the same as it was to SU Glovers – actions, not words, will judge you.

Minutes after the announcement, we issued a poll on our Twitter asking people to give a simple ‘yes or no’ answer to the question – are you happy with the takeover by Martin Hellier?

At the time of writing this, 76% of the 324 people who have voted say they are happy with the takeover – but in the comments there are unquestionably doubts.

The truth is that Martin Hellier’s antics on social media and off it have done nothing to help his cause of winning over the trust of supporters.

There has been language not befitting of a businessman of his stature, there has been open warfare (and blocking) with anyone who disagrees with his opinion,  along with threats to pull out of his sponsorship of the Main Stand, numerous pauses and restarts of his Twitter, and enough ups and downs to need a large glass of red wine to keep up with it.

Just reading the statement he has issued, you get the sense of a love for the theatre of the situation, and, while passion is good, what we need is stability and a solid business head.

In short, if this is going to work out well, Martin Hellier the chairman needs to be VERY different to Martin Hellier the social media user.

We want the businessman who has built up a solid and successful business. We want the passion for the local community. We want the support for the team, the manager (who appears at this time to be Mark Cooper). We want a football club which we all can be proud of.

If we are to achieve by unity, there has to be a willingness to admit and accept wrongdoings in the past and move forward. The reality is, as with Scott Priestnall and Norman Hayward/John Fry before him, we as supporters will have to go along for the ride whatever happens – but if we can create a club where we are listened too, communicated with and one where we can trust those in charge, we will be in a better place.

So, over to you, Martin. If you do what you say you will do – and do it in the right way – you will have the support of us all.

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Local businessman Martin Hellier has released a statement confirming that he has completed the takeover of majority shareholding of Yeovil Town Football Club and Yeovil Town Holdings Ltd securing the buy-back rights to the stadium and land around Huish Park.

The new Yeovil Town chairman has pledged to reunite the land with the trading business, Yeovil Football & Athletic Club, in the months to come and called for supporters to unite around ‘our truly locally-owned, community asset.’

In his statement issued on his Twitter on Saturday morning, Hellier said: “Please allow us to catch our breath, steady the ship, and bring stability, we have a very arduous task ahead of us, but one which we whole-heartedly embrace. I look forward to working closely with Mark Cooper and Josh Staunton who I know share my belief that Yeovil Town can return to brighter times.”

The deal was confirmed by a statement issued by the club from now former owner and chairman Scott Priestnall, who said: “It has been a difficult journey and I appreciate it has been hardest on you, the fans, most of all. I am confident that this transaction is one in the best interests of the club.”

He has also stated his intention to work closely with the Glovers’ Trust and the potential ‘Save Our Club’ Group which was pledged at a fans’ meeting held on Thursday.

Hellier’s announcement follows the SU Glovers confirmation of an ‘unsuccessful acquisition’ on Friday night and sees the sponsor of the Main Stand at Huish Park take over the 72% shareholding of chairman Scott Priestnall, who one assumes has now left the Yeovil Town history books.

What the future now means for the club’s other shareholder, Stuart Robins, appears uncertain. He holds a 20% stake in Yeovil Football and Athletic Club.

 

Hellier Group – statement in full:

To the fans, players, and staff of Yeovil Town Football Club, and to the wider Yeovil community:

Rejoice. The long winter of discord is over.

It is my greatest honour to announce that Hellier Group have secured the majority shareholding of Yeovil Town Football Club, Yeovil Town Holdings, and the buy-back rights to the stadium and surrounding land, which we intend to reunite with the trading business in the months to come.

As local owners, our hearts are rooted in the wellbeing and progression of our community, and we pledge to every fan, our intentions to form one entity, one club, one community, and to finally, ‘Achieve by Unity’.

This has been a long and stressful process, I have been passionate about my beliefs and feelings because I deeply care about this club.

This has not been a transaction for financial gain, it has involved a vast amount of time and effort to arrange, it is because I have the very best interests of this football club at heart.

I would like to thank the endless patience of the fans, players and the loving support of my family, as well as the tireless efforts of professionals around me, that have dedicated their time and efforts to securing what has been an exhausting process, the outcome of which is immeasurable in terms of unifying the hearts and minds of all that love this club.

Please allow us to catch our breath, steady the ship, and bring stability, we have a very arduous task ahead of us, but one which we whole-heartedly embrace. I look forward to working closely with Mark Cooper and Josh Staunton who I know share my belief that Yeovil Town can return to brighter times.

We ask that you invest your hearts and minds in supporting what is now our truly locally-owned, community asset, and lets collectively focus our ambitions in the progression of Yeovil Town Football Club. For too long, our fan-base has been divided, I would ask that this comes to an end.

Following this week’s Glovers’ Trust Meeting, I look forward to working closely with the trust / the newly formed ‘Save Our Club’ group and show that the club has, as of today, been saved.

I look forward to a bright and successful future for the club. I am very excited for us all to take this journey together.

Regards

Martin Hellier
CHAIRMAN

Up the Glovers!

 

Statement from Scott Priestnall – in full:

I confirm that I have completed the sale of Yeovil Town Football Club to the Hellier Group.

It has been a difficult journey and I appreciate it has been hardest on you, the fans, most of all.

We have not been able to share updates where we have wanted to, as you will appreciate negotiations take place under strict rules and disclosure arrangements. Given previous transactions have fallen through, I was particularly concerned about giving updates that may not materialise.

I am confident that this transaction is one in the best interests of the club.

Yeovil Town Football Club is a club that is, and always will be, very close to my heart. I wish the manager, the players, Martin and the fans all the best for the future.

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The twitter account of SU Glovers have announced the ‘unsuccessful acquisition’ of Yeovil Town FC.

In a statement released this evening the group said they had provided funding to the club to the tune of £400k and claim that the club would have entered administration without it.

“It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we regret to announce the unsuccessful acquisition of Yeovil Town Football Club. We would like to thank the fans for their patience and support but we have not been able to finalise a legal agreement with the existing owners despite our many attempts to do so over the last few months.

Unfortunately, there has now been a complete breakdown in the negotiations which has left us with no alternative other than to end negotiations to purchase the Club. This is despite our providing interim funding of in excess of £400k since January without which the Club we were told would have been placed into administration. Our commitment was unwavering and we had hoped to take Yeovil Town on a successful new chapter in the Club’s long history.”

Matt Uggla also tweeted a message to supporters:

“Lots of messages asking if it’s us. It’s not. We tried our best and ultimately fell into the trap. What the fans did yesterday was amazing and shows what a special club Yeovil is. Keep fighting the good fight and always remember the club without you guys is NOTHING.

If you stick together then you can accomplish what you need to and come out the other side of this tunnel. Don’t let a tiny group dictate to you guys the future when without you there is no future. Like the motto says. Now more than ever ACHIEVE BY UNITY.

We head north but will always love the glovers and watch out from afar. Really hope our paths cross again and thank you for everything. Keep the faith and keep together. @GloversTrust is on the right path hopefully you guys can support and follow!”

The announcement follows a statement from the chairman last night, which said a takeover had been agreed. Over to you Martin…

https://twitter.com/MartinHellier/status/1657097218254331925?s=20

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Last night at the all supporters’ meeting held by the Glovers Trust at Johnson Park, a proposal was put to the room and Zoom about the formation of a ‘Save Our Club’ group, involving members from the various groups at the club and those not affiliated with a group.

At the end of the meeting, attendees were given the opportunity to share their details if they felt they wanted to contribute. If you want to support, contact communications@glovers-trust.co.uk.

In the room, there was overwhelming support in the room. For those who weren’t there or unable to get on Zoom (sorry!)…cast your vote and share your thoughts below.

 

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.

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This episode of the Gloverscast is a recording of the supporters meeting which was held by The Glovers Trust last night. Apologies for some of the sound issues, the Zoom meeting was working overtime and there were a couple of mics in the room so bits do break up.

Let’s see what the next 48 hours brings then….

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We’d love to welcome some local businesses into the Gloverscast family through advertising. If you’re a business that would like to speak to a dedicated audience of more than 1000 monthly listeners, please get in touch. Find out more about advertising with us here.

If you have an idea for the website, want to contribute or just want to send us a message, feel free to email ian@gloverscast.co.uk.