Mark Cooper has been “relieved of his duties” as Yeovil Town manager this morning, the club has confirmed in a statement.
The decision follows a disappointing start to the National League Premier Division season which came to a head with a 4-3 defeat at home to Gateshead on Bank Holiday Monday.
The Glovers had led 3-0 at half-time in the game before capitulating to their third defeat in the first five games of the season.
The statement published on Monday said: “We would like to place on record our thanks to Mark for his commitment to this club through some very difficult times and also his achievements during his three years at Huish Park. We wish him every success in his future endeavours.”
The statement added that coach Richard Dryden, who has worked alongside Cooper at a number of his other clubs and joined his coaching staff in the summer, would “assume responsibility for first team matters while the club begins the process of appointing a new permanent manager.”
The next fixture sees them travel to FC Halifax Town looking to bounce back after back-to-back defeats over the Bank Holiday weekend.
The statement added: “We encourage all supporters to get behind Richard and the squad as we focus our attention on this weekend’s fixture against FC Halifax Town.”
Speaking after the Gateshead defeat, Cooper said he had to take calls for his sacking “on the chin” after large sections of the Huish Park crowd turned against him following the second half collapse.
He said: “If you do not win games, that is what happens. I am a big boy and you have to take it on the chin. The biggest frustration is that we played so well (in the first half) and as a manager, a coach and as a staff, we set the team up to do what we did in the first half.”
Cooper arrived at Huish Park in October 2022 following a disastrous start to the season by then-boss Chris Hargreaves and oversaw the club’s relegation out of the National League Premier Division in seven months which saw the club rocked by off-the-field turmoil.
He guided the Glovers out of the National League South at the first attempt, winning the title by 11 points, but when he guided them to an 18th place finish last season, his ‘conservative’ tactics began to turn supporters against him.
The dismissal is the first major move by the club’s new owner Prabhu Srinivasan who has attended all of the club’s matches so far this season.
It’s been a long time coming. Fingers crossed the club goes for someone with optimism and an attacking vision; the squad looks impressive when let off the reins to attack, it’s the reversion of sitting back that does us in every time.
Hopefully this can be a chance for the new ownership to show what they’re about and for fans to return to Huish Park with some hope!
Someone who makes it exciting to go watch Yeovil again! Saturdays at the football are meant to be fun
The Frank nouble assist in the 98th minute for the goal that sacked cooper, couldn’t be any sweeter unless the man scored it himself. Cooper leaves as a league winning manager and that has to be put on record, however his tenure since December has been nothing short of embarrassing. A big bold decision for a new owner to make 5 games into the season, but definitely the right call to be make. I’ll be very interested to see who they think should take charge. Bon voyage cooperball.
Got us promoted out of a league he got us relegated into, to be fair. Hargreaves was sacked in October, with most of the season remaining. We got relegated playing the same kind of unadventurous, negative football we play now. The only time it was different was against part time teams.
Can’t really argue with that!
Madness. Far too early to sack him. More unneccessary drama for the club.
You’re right, it’s only been 3 seasons
Needed to be done. He’d lost the majority of fans, used up the good will from the NLS promotion season, but did nothing in league or cups last season to suggest it was getting any better. Well done to the owner for the ballsy decision but thanks MC for that one season…
The second half of last season was dire with no signs of change.
Results based business… the clubs like Arsenal keeping Wenger for six billion years… they watched Chelsea hire and fire repeatedly, and it drove success.
Champions Leagues… Arsenal 0… Chelsea 2.
It’s tough but there’s examples of that approach being totally justified.
The right decision, boring football and a Manager who never made any real attempt to bond with fans during his tenure. He reacted aggressively to any touchline criticism on numerous occasions. Some of his contradictions of late have been laughable, initially ‘preferring to leave signing until late on to achieve betters players’ then reverting to complaints of ‘being unable to make early signings due to uncertainties behind the scenes’ . It was also interesting to hear the FGR fans hatred for him despite an apparent successful tenure. Far too many reports of him falling out with players and mishandling loaners (Kofi Shaw being regularly confined to the bench being a prime example)
I am delighted to see the back of him, I have supported this Club for some 53 years and have never disliked a Manager as much
Credit to him and Martin Helliar for getting together a great squad to get us back up into the National League. Even then though there were worrying signs. A lot of second halves when we went in ahead were just played at a snails pace and an exercise in trying to keep possession and boring the pants off everybody. Could get away with at the league below as squad was too good for that league. Big difference with this league and it is just so boring to watch. He was another manager that wants to play like Pep but with National League players. It was awful to watch week in ,week out. Just get in a manager who wants to beat the opposition and not just hopes to nick a goal (Or three!!) in the first half and hang on in the second half.
Mixed feelings… you have to give Cooper some credit, he wouldn’t have won promotion if he wasn’t a competent manager. That’s a loss that is difficult to replace.
Also hopefully Prabhu’s preferred choice will be a better manager, or at least equal. Careful what you wish for… with “Cooper Out” it could make it worse.
Most managers at various levels have shown you can get promotion with the biggest budget.
I was worried he’d be too unadventurous to win National League South, but we had that golden spell where we won all those games using overlapping full backs & wide midfielders.
What was amazing, was the fact that he abandoned that system & never used it again.
I predicted early on what would happen this season, simply based on the second half of last season.
At least we know the new owner’s prepared to be ruthless when he has to be.
Let’s just hope we get a new manager who believes football should be about entertainment as well as winning matches.
At home, we should be playing on the front foot, whether the opposition are top of the table, or, bottom of the table.
Ok… maybe Harry Redknapp could come out of retirement to be a Director of Football… and some other younger name, in their 30s or 40s could Manage… not a nobody someone we have actually heard of.
We should go for Steve Cotterell, he would return the club around, have a think PS the owner.
I’m putting my £1 on Lee Johnson with King Gary as director of football, or Jamie Mcalister, either would be good, they all know the club and what it’s about, and boy would it put a few on the gate. Whoever comes in needs to look at the young full back at Dorking, local ish lad who can score goals, and a heart on sleave player, check his Grandad out for those who dont know him.
I do appreciate what mc did for us during the dark days but there’s always a but his post match interviews were awful please like I said a couple of days ago go get Steve cotterell but no Gary Johnson or Skivo even way that would be turning back time and as they say never go back
Get Adam hinshelwood in