Martyn Starnes will soon be appointed as the club’s new Chief Executive Officer and join the club’s board, according to chairman and owner Scott Priestnall.
In an update posted on the club’s website on Friday, the chairman said that Starnes would “shortly” be appointed in the role which he previously held for a six-year period up until July 2013 when he left to take over at Plymouth Argyle.
He has been a regular feature at Huish Park in recent months with director Stuart Robins telling us on the Gloverscast that Starnes was involved in a “voluntary” capacity which now looks set to become permanent.
Speaking of Starnes in the statement, Priestnall said: “I can confirm that the club’s former CEO has been assisting myself and the club for the last few months and will be shortly appointed as a Director of Yeovil Football & Athletic (Club) Limited and once again take up the role of CEO.
“Martyn has vast experience and expertise in football, and I look forward to Martyn leading the club off the field and working closely with (manager) Chris (Hargreaves) to improve on the field.”
In a wide-ranging statement, the chairman said that discussions were continuing with “potential investors” and added that “the door is open for anyone to approach the club with interest in being involved in the ownership of the club.”
He added: “I will of course take any approach seriously and communicate this to supporters I’m hoping that we will have one or two additional board directors before the end of the year.”
It would appear that Starnes will be joining Robins, who became a director in May when he bought a 20% stake in Yeovil Football & Athletic Club Limited, the business which operates its football operations, and Priestnall on the board – and there’s perhaps another to come.
On the pitch, the chairman added that he would continue to support manager Chris Hargreaves to build a team “which can compete” in the National League.
He said he believed that the team was “improving in that department” following last weekend’s 1-0 home win over Solihull Moors and said the manager had “been given additional resources” to strengthen the squad.
The chairman also said there would be a meeting held in November where supporters would be able to “have their voice heard and raise questions.”
Priestnall added: “I don’t think anyone can dispute the quality of our performances this season, and of course we need to turn those performances into wins.
“Chris has been given additional resources to improve the squad as we look to capitalise on a good win Saturday against a very strong Solihull side.
“Whilst I appreciate, I won’t ever win some of you over, I hope that you continue to put your support behind Chris and the team, in the meantime we will be setting up a meeting next month for supporters to have their voice heard and raise questions.”
Speaking in his press conference ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup tie with Taunton Town, Hargreaves said he believed that any money generated by a run in the competition would be reinvested in to the squad.
He said: “There’s no doubt that the money will come back to the playing squad if it’s right at that point and the management of the club’s (finances) is vital.”
The chairman has confirmed that since selling the land at Huish Park to South Somerset District Council in a deal which cost the local authority £2.8m, the club has been “working with consultancy firms, architects and investment partners to assemble a plan for the development of Huish Park.”
He added: “We have held various discussions with potential partners and have had a planning meeting with the council.
“Over the coming months we will be looking to finalise our plans for both the land and re-development of the stadium. I hope to get those plans and our next steps out to you all later this year.”
To be perfectly clear, the council put £2.8m in its budget to complete the acquisition of the land, but we have been told that this is not the amount the club received in the deal. That figure has not been made available, except that it’s not £2.8m.