Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 460)

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Former Yeovil Town loan striker Olufela Olomola has been released by Scunthorpe United following the expiry of his contract.

The 23-year-old, who had two spells on loan at Huish Park under former boss Darren Way, is among 17 players being shipped out of the League Two club in what looks like a major clear out.

Fela first joined us in the 2017-18 campaign from Southampton and made 28 appearances scoring seven times. He returned in 2018-19, this time from Scunthorpe, scoring just three times in 27 appearances.

He made just seven starts for the Iron this season.

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Yeovil Town Manager Darren Sarll spoke to the media on Thursday ahead of the fixture against King’s Lynn on Saturday but couldn’t help but look further ahead to the following Tuesday’s game with Maidenhead where supporters will be allowed back into Huish Park.

“It is probably the first time I have felt any joy around football in the last eight weeks if not longer, I can’t wait to see and hear them. I can’t wait for them to back our lads, I can’t wait to be proud of our lads, I can’t wait to win a game and do that song at the end of the game.”

Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Sarll admitted his singing might be a tad rusty though, joking: “I can’t remember the words but I just clap when they clap and sing the bits I can remember.”

Tickets have been selling well, with social media buzzing with Glovers fans who have secured their spot at Huish Park next Tuesday, even our very own Ian Perkins is booked in for a spot in the stand for the midweek fixture!

Sarll continued to reminisce  about the scenes we saw regularly at the end of home matches last season;

“When I look back to at last season, I have bits I absolutely love, it was the best year of my life by a country mile.”

“All of those moments were with the fans at the end of games at Aldershot, Solihull and home games. It energises you, it gives you confidence. What a nice thing to have, what a nice moment to share and energise before we go again next season with a vibrant game of players. When we are attacking that Thatcher’s End, that stand is lifting the whole football club. We have missed it so much.”

Tickets for the game are still available but are subject to strict social distancing protocols, click HERE to secure your seat on Tuesday night.

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Former Yeovil Town midfielder, Marc Bircham has taken on his first full-time managerial role with League of Ireland side Waterford Town.

Bircham arrived in Ireland on Thursday and will undertake a period of self isolation before joining his new side.

The Canadian international joined the Glovers in 2007, and played a little over a dozen times before ankle injuries ended his career in 2009.

Bircham has spent time coaching in America as well as taking on the QPR job in a caretaker capacity and had been on the coaching staff at Millwall.

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Darren Sarll has said it is inevitable that “players fans really like” will be leaving the club this summer.

But, the manager has said he is committed to  bringing in other talent who will go on to become fans’ favourites as he looks to build for next season.

He said: “We are starting to build for the future and next season, Scott (Priestnall), the Yeovil Town chairman) and I are talking all the time about what we want this team to look like and how we want it to represent the fans. We built a lovely connection with our fans last season and we want to rebuild that with players that we want to have that and with players that we bring in. Players that they really like will be leaving, that is inevitable, and some players that they like  (who are currently not at the club) will be coming in. We need to add (new players) to bring a nice, new energy to the group and we need to keep some of what we’ve got because they are brilliant people and they deserve another crack at it.”

 

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Current Yeovil Town loanee Michael Kelly and former Glovers’ star Ed Upson have both been released by Bristol Rovers, the club has announced.

The pair are among 12 players who have been released following the  expiry of their contracts this summer.

Full-back Kelly has been on loan at Huish Park since the end of January making 17 appearances this season, while Upson has been a regular starter as the Gas were relegated to League Two. He made 33 appearances, scoring once.

 

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There appears to be no sign of a return from exile for Yeovil Town winger Gabby Rogers.

The possible return to the fold of the young midfielder has been a topic for discussion among supporters with an injury crisis crippling the first-team.

Gabby Rogers in action for Yeovil Town.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Rogers has not featured since coming off the bench for extra-time at the end of the 3-2 FA Cup defeat at Stockport County back in November and Sarll said at the time he had “pretty much requested to be on the transfer list.”

Asked about him again ahead of the weekend’s home game with King’s Lynn, Sarll said: “Nothing has changed from the first time around. I will only play players who want to play for the football club, it does not matter who it is. We want to produce a group of people that are highly committed to the club. Gabby was (committed to the club) but things change.”

The possible return was a topic for discussion on the Gloverscast the other week and in a recent edition of the Gloversblog, read here .

*Editors note: this question has been omitted from the Official coverage of the pre-match press conference

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Yeovil Town have appealed the red card shown to Alex Bradley in Tuesday night’s 2-0 defeat at Aldershot Town and are hopeful he will return for this weekend’s visit from King’s Lynn.

Bradley was dismissed for a tackle from behind on Shots’ striker Harry Panayiotou after 55 minutes of the game in Hampshire, but boss Darren Sarll is hopeful the three-match ban will be overturned on appeal.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Thursday, Sarll said: “We have appealed. We think the video footage is good enough to exonerate him. There was a similar tackle from an Aldershot player midway through the second half which is probably worse than Alex’s, so we will be saying that and hopefully  we can get Alex in on Saturday.”

You can see for yourself with the match highlights – see here – on the club’s YouTube channel – the moment is at 2 minutes and 55 seconds in.

Sarll also revealed that some of his long list of injuries could return for the match at Huish Park.

He was without Luke Wilkinson, Max Hunt, Albi Skendi, Carl Dickinson, Jimmy Smith, Matt Worthington, Rhys Murphy and long-term absentee Josh Staunton at Aldershot.

But, the boss revealed that he was hopeful that a number of those missing in midweek would be available.

Sarll said: “I don’t think in an ideal world we would have them this weekend, but there are players that have been very forceful in saying they recognise the situation and want to help. They are putting themselves at risk for the benefit of the team, myself and the football club, so I am hopeful on a couple of them. I would rather not name them in case I set myself up, but I am hoping that some of them will be available where it is cameo roles or from the start.”

Midfielder Lawson D’Ath, who has been missing since January, made a welcome return as a second-half substitute at Aldershot and there was another appearance for under-18s midfielder, Toby Stephens.

On the subject of poor refereeing decisions, Sarll also revealed he had received an apology from the FA for mistake of not giving a penalty for a foul on striker Reuben Reid in the 3-0 home defeat to Halifax Town.

With the Glovers’ trailing 1-0 in the 83rd minute, Reid was pulled back in the box by visiting defender Niall Maher, but referee Elliot Swallow waved the appeals away and the visitors broke away to get a second moments later.

Sarll said: “I’ve had another email today saying (the referee) got it wrong again with Reuben’s penalty against Halifax. That stops them getting the second goal and  potentially brings us back to 1-1. I guess there are 14 points of mistakes we’ve not got from referees this season.”

One person who won’t be surprised is Halifax manager Pete Wild who admitted after the game that it was “definitely a pen.”

 

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Yeovil Town boss Darren Sarll has revealed the club couldn’t say no to QPR on the deal offered for Alfie Lloyd.

The academy product’s move to QPR was confirmed earlier this week after he had a successful trial at the London club.

Speaking to the press today, Sarll said: “It was a brilliant deal, we could not say no. It is the best deal in terms of monetary value that the club has done for 4-5 years. It is a good deal up front and a good deal if Alfie is successful and it is a good deal for Alfie in terms of his football career and education and that is what he needs. We are really pleased for him because he is a brilliant guy and we are delighted for him.”

Sarll stressed the importance of good finances at the club, given the uncertainty COVID has caused, and touched on the deals we’ve done this season, presumably the selling of Myles Hippolyte, Courtney Duffus and Lloyd.

“Everyone knows we are in COVID financial times and money is at a premium, so we needed to do it. We have sold three players and we have brought in what is moving to hundreds of thousands of pounds in remuneration, so that is all good. That will only create a stronger foundation and that is what is going to have to happen. That is like any business. What we have seen over the years, so many mistakes with young players who spend ages out on loan and then get released. We are in a position next season where every penny has to be spent very wisely and next season if players can’t contribute to the first team, we can’t have them with us.”

Sarll praised his young signings, Tom Knowles, Alex Bradley and Max Hunt. He talked about the character they bring to the squad, and how the experiences of this season will only improve them.

He said: “The experience young players are getting on and off the pitch has been huge, but we have to get through this difficult time.
They will only be better for these life and football experiences. I am really excited about players like Tom Knowles, Alex Bradley, Max Hunt, they are going to be brilliant players for the club.

“We need to make sure we keep that character because the team that fell out of the League was devoid of character in my opinion. We need to keep that in senior players, but there are also young players out there with that same character that you need. Look at Tom Knowles, his strength of character means he’s as tough as old boots, brave as a lion, takes the ball, gets kicked and gives it back.”