Yeovil Town chairman Scott Priestnall has said the club is talking to “interested parties including development firms” about the future of the land at its Huish Park stadium.
In a wide-ranging statement published on the club’s website, he also confirmed that the deal agreed with South Somerset District Council for the sale and lease back of land had not been completed.
However, he added that the deal “remains a viable option.”
He said: “When it comes to the sale of the club’s land, the club remains considering our options, with the football club and the wider communities best interest paramount in our decision making.
“As was reported last year, the football club struck a deal with South Somerset District Council, however this deal has not been completed but remains a viable option.
“The club continue to talk to interested parties, including development partners, who would be willing to work closely with the club to help fulfil our vision and give this club an exciting future.”
In an interview alongside manager Darren Sarll on the club’s YouTube channel, the chairman confirmed he was still the owner of the club and said that he had received less enquiries to sell than “in a normal season.”
The owner, who has been in charge since the summer of 2019 when he bought the club from John Fry and Norman Hayward, added that he was committed looking at “what is right for all parties” adding that he had not been “rushed in to signing a deal yet.”
Priestnall added: “We are in discussions with a couple of people at the moment and hopefully I will be able to update on progress.
“The immediate concern is making sure we are competitive and structured operationally and we can have fans back in the stadium in a safe environment.
“We have to be competitive on the pitch and have the resources to be competitive, so that has been a focus for the last couple of months.”
The statements reiterate the comments made by the chairman when he took to social media to answer questions from supporters at the end of June, when he said he had been “approached by a group to buy the club.”
At the end of 2020, South Somerset District Council agreed a deal to buy Huish Park and surrounding land and lease it back to the club.
However, the deal did not proceed after the Glovers’ Trust activated an Asset of Community Value (ACV) which it held giving it a six-month period to raise the cash to make a counter offer to Priestnall.
That period expired this summer with the Trust failing to get sufficient funding to make an offer.
Speaking at the end of that period, South Somerset District Council confirmed that “talks remain open” about its sale and lease back offer.
For more background on the moratorium period on the sale of Huish Park triggered by the ACV, read our blog on the subject – here.