Yeovil Town owner Prabhu Srinivasan has said his family has invested “a lot of money” in to the club since he took over at the end of May.
The Dubai-based businessman said the investment had delivered “a lot of financial stability” and insisted that manager Richard Dryden was “following a blueprint” which he hopes will have the Glovers challenging for EFL status next season.
Speaking to BBC Somerset reporter Jack Killah at Huish Park ahead of Saturday’s game with Southend United, the owner also revealed he hoped that the club would be reunited with land around the stadium by the end of this season.
Speaking about investment, he said: “We as a family have invested quite a bit of money in the last five months, more than most clubs have, to do what is right for the club going forward. There is a lot of financial stability is the club, more than there was before.
“We have invested a lot already, a lot more than other clubs have done. I do not think there is any paucity of investment for this club.”
On plans to purchase the land from Somerset Council, he added: “It is our top priority, we are working with the council to get that organised. Hopefully if all goes well we will have it by the end of the season. That is the hope. It means a lot of us, the fans and I keep saying this to the fans ‘please be with us because we are in it for the long term and your support on the pitch is very important for us.’
“The stadium is one of the top stadiums in the National League and better than some of the League Two stadiums as well. From an infrastructure perspective, I do not think things will change too much.”
Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.
Yeovil go in to the match with Southend United in 18th place in the National League Premier Division table without a win in their last six games, including an exit from the FA Cup at the hands of lower league Hemel Hempstead Town.
Asked about his thoughts on the performance so far this season, Prabhu added: “It on the plan. We have given Richard what he wants, he needs to deal with that on the pitch, that is what he is trying to do. Looking at the numbers we have seven new players in contract since the start of the season, we have let go of two players, one is on loan and we have five new loan players, so that is 12 new signings this year. We have to do this slowly, it is not something that is going to change instantly. Richard and the team is doing what they need to do. Do we want more from them? The obvious answer is ‘yes’, but we are all following a blueprint and it will take time to put that together. If we get the blueprint right, by the end of next season we will hopefully be in League Two, that is what we are aiming for.“
If you have given Richard what he has asked for and invested in the playing staff, then you have to question his ability to manage this side. I would also say that we must have wasted a lot of money as the squad is poor. Everyone can see we are unable to score/convert chances yet we bring in a 19 year old CDM.
Defensively today we gave away the ball on the edge of our box 3/4 times, Southend should have buried us in the first half.
I’m sorry but if we leave Dryden in charge and we are going down imo.
So the lights in the Thatchers on the wall between the stands and the pitch is investing a lot now is it? Poor recruitment and yet hes got a lot more in his pocket how about we use it and bring in someone who isnt an academy player and someone who has a little bit of experience in a first team squad not just a player with a couple EFL Trophy games under his belt
Today was a tough loss yes do we want to see more yes but the team is finding it’s feet with practically pretty much a whole new 11 in the team we will see these boys grow in the green and white and we all need to keep getting behind them ward made some fantastic saves today as well and when this team starts clicking I believe we will e playing some fantastic football again
I admire your optimism.
Did the Southend keeper have to make any saves at all today?
The stadium is literally falling apart in places.. whole away end needs bulldozing and starting again. Broken seats that never get fixed.. Air conditioning units that don’t seem to ever be used.
Invested a lot of money???? We spent a few quid to relieve Cooper of his duties, then employ his clown, sorry clone. Dryden signs Ellison on year and half contract, don’t think he has played too much !!!