Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 374)

Businessman Martin Hellier has said he is “exploring available options” amid speculation that he is looking to take a role at Yeovil Town.

The managing director of Hellier Group, the sponsor of the Main Stand at Huish Park, posted on his personal Twitter account on Wednesday night to say he had “set about my approach.”

He added: “As a truly local businessman intent on reviving the fortunes of Yeovil, I will give updates as and when there is something of tangible interest.

“Despite being tagged in various tweets today I can confirm I am not interested in consortium bids and believe I could not give everything the club needs with only a part ownership / voice. Updates will follow when it’s appropriate to do so.”

The post follows another Sunday where the businessman said he “may be ready to express an interest” using the #YTFC hashtag, suggesting he was looking at…….a takeover? An investment?

The Gloverscast did reach out to the businessman, who was in attendance at Tuesday night’s 2-0 home defeat to Aldershot Town, following his weekend post to understand his interest. We have had no response from him.

The businessman’s company describes itself as having “a diverse investment portfolio” as well as an “unwavering focus on shrewd investment strategies, impeccable standards, and shared work ethic“, and reports to be valued at £50m with annual revenues of £15m.

The group owns the Yeovil Court Hotel, the Fitness Yeovil gym on the Lynx Trading Estate and a has been involved in developing a number of properties in to Air BnB lets in the town.

In an update to supporters a fortnight ago, club chairman and owner Scott Priestnall said that he was hoping to add further directors to the board before the end of the year adding he would “take any approach seriously.”

He added: “We are continuing our discussions with potential investors to become part of the football club and the door is open for anyone to approach the club with interest in being involved in the ownership of the club.”

Now obviously Yeovil Town is no stranger to takeover talks in recent years, so maybe we’ll just have to wait and see how this one plays out.

Yeovil Town manager Chris Hargreaves said he understands the frustrations of supporters after angry scenes at the end of a 2-0 home defeat to Aldershot Town on Tuesday night.

Two goals in the last five minutes at Huish Park sent the Glovers to a second consecutive defeat and pushed them in to the National League relegation zone with supporters calling on the manager to go at the final whistle.

Speaking to BBC Somerset commentator Ian Randall at the end of the game, Hargreaves said he was “100%” certain that he had the tools he needed to get the club out of trouble.

He said: “I completely understand the annoyance. All I can do is turn up tomorrow and try my best.

“I care about the club and want it to do well. I understand the frustrations and I understand we need to get bodies in to the building.”

The boss pointed to the absence of absence of experienced heads, notably playmaker Lawson D’Ath who was not in the squad, and the late departure of Sam Pearson who has “temporarily returned from his loan spell” from Bristol City to “recover from fatigue“, according to both clubs.

Hargreaves said: “I’m asking a lot of young lads to step up and it is difficult for them and there’s a group of players where some will come through that tough period and some might struggle.

“I’m asking the experienced boys to step up and lead, but it was a tough night from them.

“It’s a very poor result and it’s difficult for some of those lads to get through the period because of their experience.”

On Tuesday night, the Glovers’ fielded a side with an average age of 24.81 years, rising fractionally to 24.85 years with the arrivals of substitutes Chiori Johnson, Will Dawes and Gime Toure.

For context, Aldershot’s starting XI had an average age of 24.72 years, rising to 25.2 years with the arrival of their two substitutes including 34-year-old Kenny Davis, who appeared on the hour mark.

Yeovil gave a debut to 20-year-old midfielder Ewan Clark in the defeat following his arrival on loan from Bristol City, swapping places with young Robin Pearson.

Hargreaves said he was continuing to “work hard” to bring in new players having spoken ahead of last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at Oldham Athletic about the club seeking clearance on a couple of training with the squad.

The boss said he had been close to bringing in players who he believed could have helped the club’s plight.

He said: “It’s a challenge because some players chose to stay at clubs and not risk playing elsewhere, but I’m working all hours to try and get the right player in and be better.

“We’ve been unfortunate with a couple which I think would have made a massive difference to the team and squad, a couple the clubs have decided to make them stay because they have got in their teams. They would’ve made a big difference.”