Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 309)

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

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

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

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

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

working with young people.

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

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

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

To donate to the fund, visit – click here.

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

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

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

 

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The National League have confirmed the key fixture dates for the 2021/22 season.

The Vanarama National season kicks off on Saturday 21st of August 2021, with an end date of Saturday 21st May 2022.

The Playoff dates run from Wednesday 25th May 2022, until Sunday 5th June 2022, these are subject to FA approval.

The Christmas calendar will see fixtures played on Boxing Day (Sunday), Tuesday 28th December and Sunday 2nd January. Although, clubs will be able to move fixtures to the 1st, or 3rd January as both are Bank Holidays.

As always, things are subject to change.

 

 

 

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Former Yeovil Town goalkeeper Sam Johnstone has been called up into England’s preliminary Euro 2020 squad by Gareth Southgate.

Johnstone is one of a number of players to have played for Yeovil, but not at Huish Park, making his one sole appearance away at Burnley in the Championship.

Despite signing initially on loan for a 3-month period, it was confirmed that he had broken a finger in the warm up at Turf Moor and would have to return to Manchester United for treatment.

Nevertheless, he’s a former Glover and that’s enough for us here at the Gloverscast – go well, Sam!

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

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

We put these questions to SSDC:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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One of Yeovil Town’s class of 2013 is on the hunt for a new club this summer, Motherwell have told Sam Foley he will be leaving at the end of his contract.

Foley, who joined Motherwell from St Mirren in January will become a free agent as the Scottish side look to restructure following the 2020/21 season.

A firm fan favourite from his time in Somerset, Foley played nearly 100 times for the Glovers scoring seven goals .

You’re more than welcome back at Huish Park any time you like, Sam!

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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1621847889_2276858.jpgYeovil Town F.C. has today launched a Crowdfunder UK campaign to support the family of club captain, Lee Collins, following his tragic passing in April.

Collaborating with Collins’ former clubs, Yeovil Town F.C. are bringing the football family together across the UK to raise funds for Collins’ partner and young children and mental health charities, with 10% of the donations given to Young Minds.

Described as the ‘glue’ of the club at Yeovil, Collins also wore the captain’s armband at Northampton Town, Mansfield Town and Forest Green Rovers and played for teams across the English Football League (EFL) and National League including Wolverhampton Wanderers, Port Vale, Barnsley, and Shrewsbury Town.

Admired by all he played with at Yeovil and beyond, Collins set standards both on and off the pitch and will be remembered for his competitive attitude as well as his kind and caring nature.

Commenting on the campaign, Yeovil Town F.C.’s manager, Darren Sarll, said:

“Uniting the football family under one banner to create something special for the family of one of our own whilst supporting mental health charities in the UK is a huge objective of ours.

“Alongside Lee’s previous clubs and teammates, we have launched a fund to support the future aspirations of Lee’s daughters, Amelia, Laila and Charley-Mae and also raise money for the important work led by mental health charities across the nation.

“Yeovil is a family-centred club and Lee’s wonderful family, who have shown great strength during this extremely difficult time, will always have a home Huish Park. We’ll celebrating Lee’s life with all the Yeovil supporters during our match against Stockport County on 29 May and appreciate the unbelievable support we have seen over the past few weeks.”

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

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

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

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

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