Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll said that the uncertainty around the ownership of the club is “unsettling” for both him and his players.
The boss and all his squad – with the exception of defender Morgan Williams – are out of contract come the end of the season and yet (it appears) no discussions are happening with any of them about their futures.
But, with Saturday marking two full months since chairman Scott Priestnall set a seven-day deadline to conclude a deal, it appears no employees at the club have been given any kind of update.
Asked about his the ongoing situation, the manager said: “It’s unsettling for me, definitely. As a father, as a husband, and all the other fathers and husbands in our squad, not having an idea of where you are going to be working in five months time can be unsettling and it can be beneficial to know.
“That’s completely out of our hands. The players are the employees of this organisation and I am their line manager, so when the line manager doesn’t have too much of an idea it’s hard to filter that down.
“I’ve had some conversations with some of (the players) and our viewpoint and our situation is quite similar.”
On January 18, Julian Jenkins, the former Cardiff City director behind talks to buy the club, said his Simul Sports Group was “in the final stages of due diligence“ around buying the club – but since then there has been no further communication.
Asked whether he thought a deal was imminent, Sarll said that the focus of his players and him was purely on the field.
He added: “I have known nothing from the start. It’s Scott’s business, not Darren Sarll’s. If I decide to keep my house, I have every right too, if I decide to sell it, it’s mine and I will do what I like about it.
“I am a professional football coach and working with 25-30 employees that report in to me and they need to focus on their job and we have to block out any noise.”
Former Glovers’ winger Nick Crittenden is “a great example” for the young players in the Yeovil Town squad, manager Darren Sarll believes.
The former Chelsea youngster, who made more than 150 times in four years at the club, was involved in the pre-match preparations ahead of last Tuesday’s derby with W*ymouth.
Having finished his playing career on the coaching staff at Dorchester Town, Crittenden has carved out a new career in accountancy and had a period looking after the books at Huish Park.
Of his role ahead of the derby, Sarll said: “I wanted someone there who’d played in those games (against W*ymouth).
“Nick is a great example as an ex-footballer who has rebuilt his trade (as an accountant), I think that is a wonderful example for young people.
“I wanted them to know he came on for Zola for his Chelsea debut and what a wonderful player he was for this club.
“When someone has lived and breathed that connection to the club for so long and it was great having him there.”
Whilst the boss said he expected Crittenden to “come in and out” of the backroom set up, there’s no progress on a longer term replacement for Terry Skiverton.