Ahead of what was an ultimately disappointing Boxing Day trip to Torquay United, it was Terry Skiverton who was up in front of the media to answer the question.
He was stepping in for manager Darren Sarll who was missing due to a family bereavement and it brought home exactly what we have in Skivo.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.
The club’s website currently names him as Assistant Manager, but there’s little doubt he’s much more than that. He’s Skivo – club legend, Darren Sarll’s right-hand man, someone has the respect of anyone with any association to Yeovil Town, and a very decent coach to boot.
Let’s not forget that having joined in the summer of 1999 and making more than 300 appearances including many as captain, he stepped forward in 2009 after the departure of Russell Slade and became manager, keeping us in League One for three consecutive seasons and then stepping aside when Gary Johnson returned in 2012.
Make no bones about it, I don’t think there’s ever been someone more engrained in our club’s history than the man from Mile End – he quite literally is Yeovil Town.
Having previously held a role as manager of the club’s now defunct Academy, he will have been pleased to see the likes of Toby Stephens, Ollie Haste, Jake Graziano and obviously his own son, Finlay, playing a part in the first-team squad.
But, it sounds like he is really enjoying working with Darren Sarll – despite being a target of the manager’s banter, often referencing his hair colour. We know it’s Strawberry Blonde, Skivo!
Talking about his relationship with the Glovers’ boss to the media last week: “When he arrived he said to me ‘Tel, we’re going to work really hard, it’s going to be intense but one thing we are going to do is have fun along the way.’
“He’s delivered that and everyone gives in 100% and you can see that on the pitch. The players are fighting to be part of it.
“It’s been an enjoyable experience through some of the toughest times of my life with COVID, with (the death of club captain) Lee (Collins), with everything that’s gone on in the last two years.
“He’s been a shining light and the way he handled those situations has been credit to him because he went through some dark times.
“He lets everyone have a voice and an opinion, it doesn’t mean he goes with your opinion, mind you! He’s very charismatic and the staff give him his best.“