Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 313)

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Owner-in-waiting Matt Uggla has said he expects to own Yeovil Town by Monday morning.

Posting on his Twitter account, the 29-year-old, whose group SU Glovers have been running affairs at Huish Park on a day-to-day basis since the end of February, that he expected the deal to be completed.

This follows comments made in a press conference on Thursday that he was expecting to sign papers which would transfer the majority shareholding in Yeovil Football & Athletic Club, the company which runs the club’s football operations, from chairman Scott Priestnall.

Responding to a supporter’s enquiry about the progress of the deal on Saturday morning, Uggla said: “Stewardship comes to an end Monday morning.”

When they were first unveiled around a month ago, SU Glovers were described as having “taken on the stewardship” of the club which Uggla said was his way of saying he did not feel being named ‘owner’ would be appropriate.

However, immediately after that announcement he told us on the podcast that there was “a bureaucratic thing” which needed to be completed to finalise the deal which would see him take on the majority shareholding of Yeovil Football & Athletic Club for Priestnall.

The majority shareholding is around 72% with fellow director Stuart Robins retaining the 20% he purchase and the remaining 8% held by a number of minority shareholders, many supporters who bought shareholdings when the club’s future was in jeopardy in the 1990s.

Although the deal appears to see Priestnall out of the day to day running of the football club – and presumably resigning his position as chairman, as suggested by Uggla earlier this month – he remains the majority shareholder in Yeovil Town Holdings and retains the exclusive buy-back of Huish Park stadium and its surrounding land granted to him by South Somerset District Council.

A planning application to build 250 house on land around the stadium is expected to be submitted after planning consultants DLP Planning contacted the council about the next steps in the development process last month – read our article here.

In response to the enquiry, the council’s owner Highways Department warned that the removal parking facilities at the club would lead to “indiscriminate parking in the new estate road, and surrounding roads” and “increase the risk of collisions on the highways” – which we are sure will delight residents in the area.

We’ll keep you updated on the progress of this…..

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After Charlie Wakefield‘s player registration deadline day loan move to National League promotion chasers Woking, Glovers’ fan Jake Gallagher has poured his feelings in to a blog……

There’s a star-man.
Playing on the right.
His name is Charlie Wakefield.
And he’s fucking dynamite.

It’s a dangerous business falling in love with football players. Especially in the lower leagues when the merry-go-round of loans and short-term contracts mean you will see more footballers through the revolving door at your club than you would at a top division outfit. But that doesn’t stop us.

Foolish though as it is, we just can’t help singing the names of our favourite players. We know it’ll end in heartbreak; we know they’ll be snapped up by a club in the division above on the eve of the season (see Tom Knowles) and we know that ultimately the better players move on to bigger things.

It’s rare these days that a player would have his own chant – they just don’t stick around long enough for fans to conjure up something catchy and come together, in the Thatcher’s Stand, as one orchestrated and organised choir. Few players get the “Super, Gav, Super Gavin Williams” treatment but Wakefield earned it and deserved it.

A silky winger, he’s just what we need….. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Perhaps it was his willingness to allow fans to peer into his life to see what it’s like to be a footballer. His ‘Man Up’ film on YouTube, a documentary about mental health in football, showed the maturity levels of such a young man who clearly cares about his family, his welfare and his future. His ‘A Day in the Life’ documentary – also on YouTube – allowed us to see a personal side that you don’t often get beyond the post-match interview. As a fan, I can’t get enough of that insight and access.

While the above is true, the real reason we all love Charlie Wakefield is his ability to ignite the crowd. Just give him the ball on the halfway line, he’ll knock it past the opposing left-back and Yeovil Town are on the attack. Not many footballers possess that quality, that get-the-supporters-off-their-seats quality. One of the most satisfying sounds in football – other than the ball hitting the back of the net – is when you can hear stadium seats flip up as people stand in anticipation of a goal. That’s what Wakefield does. Under Darren Sarll, when we were at our most dangerous, it’d be Tom Knowles breaking at pace, laying it on a plate for Charlie. One touch to control, one touch to finish. Rinse and repeat. That winning goal against Stevenage in the FA Cup 2nd Round in 2021. That was vintage Wakefield. A silky winger, just what we need, he’ll win Yeovil the National League. We can’t sing that anymore.

This does sound a bit dramatic, I’m aware of that. After all, he’s only left on loan and has played just a handful of games this season. Since the departure of Sarll it’s been obvious that both new managers have felt their style doesn’t suit a fast-breaking wide player. Chris Hargreaves tried and failed to convert him into a wing-back and Mark Cooper’s system needs more technically astute players in the forward line. Couple all that with his injury record and you can’t say you’re surprised. But that didn’t stop me feeling a twinge of regret seeing him move on, especially to Woking. Bloody Woking.

I’d love to see Charlie Wakefield back at Huish Park next season, running at defenders, scoring goals on the break. I can’t see it personally and that’s fine – it’s time to make my peace with it.

For now, I’m just going to wish him all the best. And if you’re reading this Charlie – thank you.

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Ben, Dave and Ian return to chat about a matchless midweek, but there’s been plenty going on. We talk about the signings, the not signings and preview Bromley.

Thank you for your continued support of the Gloverscast. Remember to add Gloverscast.co.uk to your favourites and check the website daily for the latest news and views from Huish Park.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Leave us a review and share the pod with a pal.

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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Yeovil Town Under-18s’ captain Jake Graziano has joined Southern League side Dorchester Town on loan until the end of the season.

The midfielder has signed a dual registration with the Magpies and could make his debut  against Merthyr Town at The Avenue at the weekend.

We’re not sure ‘Dual Registration Watch’ has the same ring to it as ‘Loan Watch’, so Ben will do what he can to work him in to his round-ups.

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Yeovil Town owner-in-waiting Matt Uggla (see below for more on that title) and manager Mark Cooper have both been in front of the local media today to talk about player incomings and the ownership situation at Huish Park.

In summary:

  • Uggla says his SU Glovers‘ group has “the papers” to complete the takeover of the club from Scott Priestnall and expects them to be signed within “the next 48 hours“.
  • He has indicated that he expects the signing of players to involve a wider group of people than just the manager as his group begins to put its mark on Huish Park.
  • There is a slight discrepency between Uggla and Cooper about the fitness of new signings Callum Harriott and Zanda Siziba with the owner(-in-waiting) describing them as “ready to go” and the manager suggesting he was still assessing how to use them.
  • Defender Max Hunt and midfielder Scott Pollock are both in full training but Cooper expects Hunt to be unavailable for Saturday’s visit by Bromley, and said he is not planning to rush Pollock in to the side.

Firstly, on the ownership issue, Uggla told 3 Valleys Radio’s Adi Hopper on Thursday: “We have got the papers and they should be signed today or tomorrow. I like the term ‘steward’ (rather than owner) but it will be changing.” So, that’s that one.

He also explained that there was now a team of “numerous different people” who was involved in recruiting players with both Harriott and Siziba being announced as arriving at the club by Uggla’s owner Twitter account.

Speaking about the arrivals, he told BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins: “Having people who are experienced in the game who might not necessarily at the club but we know through our network, getting those opinions is key.

“If you have ten people watching a player rather than one person watching that player, you are going to have a more well-rounded view of what you are looking at.”

Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper speaking to the media ahead of the weekend’s home match with Bromley.

Having confirmed that Cooper was involved in all decisions involving the playing staff, he admitted things were changing: “We are definitely moving away from the old school model of the manager solely selecting a team.

“Managers come and go but Yeovil is forever, when the manager maybe does eventually go, then it is a seamless transition for the person coming in because this is how Yeovil play. If the manager is just picking the players, that is not a place we really want to be at.”

Asked if he still had 1,000% backing for the manager, he added: “We are still in a transitional phase and next season (the philosophy) will be more obvious. Mark has done a good job to get to where he is at the moment, but, as I say, getting as many eyes on players is the way forward and maybe then it transitions to a head coach role and we bring in a recruitment team – maybe it doesn’t. We’ll figure that out in the summer, let’s just try and stay up first.”

He added: “Mark is manager right now and that is great. Let’s get to the end of the season and make sure we stay up and go from there.

“Things are different if we are not in this division because the budget is not going to be the same, so we are not thinking too much about (the long term) – it’s just think of Saturday, then the following Saturday, then Tuesday.”

On the subject of Harriott and Siziba’s potential involvement in Saturday’s National League match with Bromley at Huish Park, both Uggla and Cooper were asked their thoughts.

On Harriott:

Uggla: “This is the lowest level he has ever played at. I went down to training to have a look and he looked fantastic. I think for us to be able to get a player like that shows the ambition the club has, he had offers from lots of different teams, so for him to come to us and buy in what we are selling is great. He will get fans off their seats and that is what want going forward.

“I know for a fact that Callum had been playing. He played last week for 90 minutes and scored a goal, he’s fit, he’s fine and I don’t know if he will start but he will take part on Saturday.”

Cooper: “Callum has been a top player, I remember watching him play in the Championship and my teams have played against him.

“He’s had a few injuries and has had a bit of time out, so he is playing catch up with his fitness, but he has tremendous ability and we have to find out the best way to use him without putting him at too much risk. Whether that is to start him or bring him on, that is what we need to decide.”

On Siziba:

Uggla: “I doubt you will find a faster player in the league. He’s a young player who has such an elite attitude.

“He came over from Ipswich to train with us, he got his head down, trained really well, he wants to prove everyone wrong and he plays with a chip on his shoulder because he should be playing higher.

“Zanda has been training which I know if different to playing in a match, but he is fit and ready to go – and try and catch him!”

New signing Zanda Siziba gets a high five from Matt Uggla after signing.

On the injury front, both owner/steward and manager confirmed that defender Max Hunt and midfielder Scott Pollock are back in training – but it does not sound like either will feature from the start against Bromley.

Uggla described Pollock as “a special player” having watched him train in the week and Cooper admitted the recent signing from National League North side Boston United had impressed in training.

The manager said: “He has looked sharp in training this week, but he has not played for six or seven weeks. If we put him straight back in to that environment we risk him breaking down again and that is what we don’t want. He is training properly this week and he is showing some glimpses.”

Hunt is still “a week away” from fitness, but Cooper pointed out the defender has not played since the 4-1 defeat at Bromley in mid-January.

Perhaps tellingly with no out-and-out striker arriving ahead of the registration deadline, Uggla also commented to on loan Doncaster Rovers striker Reo Griffiths‘ form in training: “Reo Griffiths is up to match fitness and watching him, he is a special player and should hopefully take part.”

Griffiths appeared as a second half substitute in the 2-1 defeat at Barnet and travelled with the squad to FC Halifax last weekend despite missing training the day before.

 

 

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Sheffield United defender Miguel Freckleton has arrived at Yeovil Town on loan until the end of the season.

The Bristol-born player, who signed for the Blades from Mangotsfield United at the end of 2021, had a three-month loan in the National League with Wealdstone which ended at the end of February.

He impressed during his time with the Stones helping them to a clean sheet against free-scoring Wrexham on his debut, scoring his first professional goal in a 2-1 win over York City and playing in the goalless draw at Huish Park at the end of January.

Speaking the ytfc.net, the 20-year-old said: “It feels good, I’m glad to get it done and I’m ready to get going.

“Having played against Yeovil when I was younger and being from not too far down the road, it’s nice to be around a familiar area.”

Freckleton follows winger Callum Harriott and Ipswich Town youngster Zanda Siziba who both arrived at Huish Park earlier in the week ahead of today’s 5pm deadline for registering players for the rest of the National League season.

Speaking earlier today, Yeovil Town owner-in-waiting Matt Uggla said he was hoping to get two more faces in, saying: “Certainly there is one more coming in and hopefully there will be another, but we will have to wait and see how that plays out.”

One assumes Freckleton was the more definite one, but the wait for an out-and-out striker goes on……

 

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Defender Edwin Agbaje has returned to Ipswich Town after suffering an ankle injury in last weekend’s 1-1 draw on the beach at FC Halifax Town.

The 19-year-old was stretchered off at The Shay after 73 minutes having picked up an injury which now requires surgery.

The club confirmed his departure in a statement saying: “All at Yeovil Town would like to extend our best wishes to Edwin Agbaje after his injury suffered against FC Halifax Town.

“The defender will now require surgery on the injury suffered and will be unable to play for the Glovers again this season.”

https://twitter.com/edwinagbaje1/status/1638500260317216771?s=20

Agabje arrived at Huish Park in late January and made his debut in the 209 away win at Dagenham & Redbridge, going on to make ten more appearances in green and white.

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Winger Callum Harriott and midfielder Zanda Siziba have arrived at Yeovil Town as they seek to bolster their injury-hit squad in the run-in to the end of the National League season.

The pair were announced by owner-in-waiting Matt Uggla on social media after he said at the weekend that he was looking to bring in four signings before the deadline for registering players closes on Thursday.

Harriott left League Two side Gillingham at the end of February having only made four appearances this season, the last as a late substitute in the Gills’ FA Cup tie with Leicester City on January 7th, whilst Siziba has featured only twice for Ipswich, both in the Papa John’s Trophy. His last match was on November 22nd.

Siziba, 19, had been training at Huish Park in recent weeks and was announced by a tweet from Uggla showing him signing a contract alongside Paul Sackey, who is part of the SU Glovers group which is looking to take over at Huish Park*.

https://twitter.com/matt_uggla/status/1638251952105484300?s=20

Harriott, 29, is a product of the Charlton Athletic academy and featured for the Addicks in the Championship before signing for Reading in 2016, before leaving at the end of the 2018-19 campaign and turning up at Colchester United, where he had a spell on loan in 2015-16.

He was a popular player with the Essex club, making nearly 100 appearances before being released in May 2021 and then joining Gillingham last November. He left at the end of February.

Uggla posted a link to a YouTube highlights package, see below, showing the tricky winger adding: “Daylight robbery. Big big player.” In a later post, he confirms the player is on a permanent deal.

 

* – until someone says the “bureaucratic thing” which Uggla was delaying the takeover of the club from former owner Scott Priestnall has been overcome, we’ll stick with ‘owners-in-waiting’. But, the commitment of SU Glovers to invest is (at the very least) a reassuring.

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Tickets for Yeovil Town’s remaining four home matches of the National League season will be priced at no more than £10, the club has confirmed.

Following a success ‘Pack the Park’ campaign draw a crowd of nearly 3,000 to Huish Park for the 1-0 win over Eastleigh in the last outing, the club has confirmed it will continue the offer for fixtures against Bromley, Southend United, Dorking Wanderers and Oldham Athletic.

Tickets are priced at £10 for adults, £5 for concessions (OAP, 17-21 year olds, Armed Forces and students) with anyone aged 16 years and under paying just £1.

The club is also offering season ticket holders the opportunity to bring a friend for free for the remaining fixtures. To claim the deal, season ticket holders will need to login to their online account through the club’s ticket portal – click here.

https://twitter.com/matt_uggla/status/1637867422857191447?s=20

Anyone who has already purchased a ticket for any of the remaining four fixtures will have the difference in ticket price refunded to their account in the coming days. If you don’t see the money land in your account, contact info@ytfc.net.

The 3,907 who came to the Boxing Day match at home to Torquay United represents the biggest crowd of the season so far at Huish Park – could this weekend’s visit from Bromley top that?

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The three plebs return to talk through the 1-1 at Halifax Town and have moan about officiating, the pitch and what we’re going to do with all these injuries.

Thank you for your continued support of the Gloverscast. Remember to add Gloverscast.co.uk to your favourites and check the website daily for the latest news and views from Huish Park.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Leave us a review and share the pod with a pal.

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.