Charlie Lee (Page 2)

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Charlie Lee speaks to the BBC ? YTFC

Yeovil Town interim manager Charlie Lee bemoaned a wasteful Glovers’ performance after their 2-0 home defeat to struggling Aldershot Town at Huish Park on Good Friday.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins, he said that he disappointed with the goals his side conceded.

“The first half was here and there, I think we probably had the better of the chances, then, second half I thought we started really well and we looked like the team that was going score.

Then, when you concede a goal from a set piece, there was plenty of time in the game and they went straight after it, we went gung-ho and we lost our shape and when you concede another goal like that, you’re chasing the game.

“It was two poor goals that we’re really disappointed with, in a game where we were comfortable. We are not going to hide away from it, that’s too many poor goals in the last couple of games.”

Lee admitted frustration seemed to set in after a string of crosses, corners and half chances early in the second half, but said that even when going 1-0 down he was confident of a response.

“There was loads of time, we’ve been coming back from a goal down all the time, we’re confident, we’ve been looking a real threat going forward, then, once they get the second they literally just shut up shop.

“We went for it, we had more attackers on the pitch than we can imagine and probably created less chances… the boys that came on couldn’t help us, the boys the started, we looked for the first time in a few games, we didn’t look like we had that killer instinct in the final third and that’s the real disappointment.”

The caretaker boss said it was good to have centre half Max Hunt back on the bench for his first appearance since mid-January as well as to have Grant Smith back in goal, having been out for a month with a groin injury.

Charlie suggested that there could be more changes to the side with a quick turnaround and the derby at W*ymouth on Easter Monday.

“There’ll be more changes for Monday, there will have to be, they’re tired bodies… everyone who is used needs to give me everything they’ve got.”

The Glovers travel to the Bob Lucas Stadium for a 1pm kick-off against that lot down by the seaside. If you are heading down, don’t miss our Ciderspace Away Travel Guide – click here.

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Yeovil Town  goalkeeper Grant Smith will be back between the posts for the visit of Aldershot Town to Huish Park on Good Friday.

The first-choice stopper has been missing with a groin injury in recent weeks and his place has been filled by West Bromwich Albion loanee Ted Cann, who has returned to his parent club today (Thursday).

However, caretaker manager Charlie Lee confirmed that midfielder Matt Worthington will miss the next four matches through suspension with the club not planning to appeal his red card against King’s Lynn Town last weekend.

Grant Smith. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Speaking ahead of the start of the Easter period, Lee said: “Ted came in at a perfect time for us because Grant was struggling with his groin.

“He’s strong now and he’s been training, he was probably ready for the last game but it would have been unfair to take Ted out.

“But Grant is a top goalkeeper and he’ll be ready for the game on Friday.”

The boss admitted that he still felt the dismissal of Worthington, a straight red card for a full-blooded tackle on Linnets’ midfielder, Theo Widdrington, was questionable –  but did not think the video evidence was strong enough for an appeal.

He said: “There just isn’t enough angles. I still feel that watching back that it is a very harsh red, but to get an appeal going and overturn the red card is not that easy.

“Unfortunately, he will be missing for four games which is a massive loss for us. He’s in good form, he’s a good player and he will be missed, but we have some players ready to step in.

“We are in a position where we have a bigger squad than we have for the last few months.”

Both Lawson D’Ath and Alex Bradley could step in to the void left by the absence of Worthington. Both stayed on the bench for the 2-2 draw in Norfolk last weekend.

The interim boss confirmed defenders Max Hunt and loanee Jack Robinson were back in full training having been missing through injury.

The visit of Aldershot seems certain to be too soon for either player to be in contention for a start, but they could be in contention in the coming weeks.

Of injured midfielder Josh Staunton, Lee added: “We are waiting to find out a bit more, he has another specialist to see and there will probably be more news on him next week.”

Asked about any discussions around the future of the club’s players, Lee said that he was not involved in any discussions around their futures.

Going off the public statements made by the club at the time of player’s arrivals, we believe that only defender Morgan Williams has a deal beyond the end of this season.

Charlie Lee talks to the BBC ? YTFC YouTube

Lee said: “That’s something I’m not involved with. The club is progressing well, the owner knows what he wants next season, but for me it is about preparing the games on Friday and Monday.”

However, he did say that the players had shown no sign of slowing down despite being set in mid-table in the National League with little prospect of either troubling the relegation or promotion picture.

He said: “When I took over, I said to them ‘if we win games, that is not going to effect anyone negatively’, it will only help the club, the fans, the players.

They have bought in to that brilliantly and they have proven since I have taken over that they have bought in to that.

“We played a little 11v11 game in training yesterday and there was no player who was not interested in winning on Friday.”

 

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Caretaker manager Charlie Lee speaking after the 2-2 draw at Barnet last weekend.

Yeovil Town caretaker manager Charlie Lee spoke to the BBC following the Glovers’ 2-2 draw with King’s Lynn Town and spoke highly (again) of the players character.

Speaking to BBC Somerset after the tie in Norfolk, he said: “I went through every emotion in that one, I don’t know how to take it, I’ll have to sit back, analyse it with the staff and see what we think, 

The first thing we will say is that the boys they don’t know when they’re beaten, they don’t know to give up.”

“To have that athleticism, with 10 men for such a long time, they should be proud of themselves”

The Glovers needed a 91st minute equaliser from substitute Charlie Wakefield to snatch a point, having played the second half with ten men following the 43rd minute dismissal of Matt Worthington.

The boss added: “It’s a brilliant goal, they stayed in the game, we tried about three different formations and brought subs on.

“Charlie has played a lot of games, he’s looked tired this week, we spoke to each other and when you make a change and he comes on does that, I’m just so happy his attitude is like that really.

“It sums the whole group up, there’s a lot of positives from today.

“There’s going to be games like that in the National League, especially when they’re scrapping for safety.

I was just pleased the boys had an unbelievable attitude to it with 10 men, I’m just really proud of them to go and get the goal

“Again, like (the 2-2 draw at) Barnet (last weekend), I’d have loved to have to win it late, but it just didn’t happen”

Both sides ended the match with ten men with Linnets’ defender Munashe Sundire picking up a second yellow for a foul on Josh Neufville after 70 minutes to set up a frenetic final 20 minutes.

Lee insisted he did not believe Worthington’s full-blooded tackle on Theo Widdrington was worth a red card from referee Elliot Swallow, who dished out five yellow cards when Yeovil beat Woking 2-0 at Huish Park back in October.

Matt Worthington drives forward.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

The caretaker said: “I think everyone (thought it was not a red card), I spoke to their bench and you understand their reaction, it was one of those tackles, I think everyone saw he won the ball.”

“I don’t know really what to say, it’s not a red card, everyone makes mistakes, we will look back at it and I’ll have to see the video, my first thought is that it’s a great tackle.”

Lee said he was looking forward to the challenge of an Aldershot Town/W*ymouth double header over Easter and the players would be working hard… after a well earned day off.

The manager said: “That’s five unbeaten now (six if you include the Somerset Premier Cup, Charlie!), everyone keeps saying we’ve got nothing to play for, but at a time where we’ve got nothing to play for we’ve gone five unbeaten. 

“That just sums up the boys, they’re going to need a couple of days off either side of a working training day to recover.”

If Worthington’s red card is not appealed, he will miss four games including both of the Easter fixtures.

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Yeovil Town caretaker manager Charlie Lee has a selection headache going in to this weekend’s trip to National League relegation battlers King’s Lynn Town.

The Glovers’ boss has choices to make in goal with first-choice Grant Smith fit again after a groin injury up against on-loan West Brom youngster Ted Cann, who has played the last four National League fixtures.

Caretaker manager Charlie Lee speaking after the 2-2 draw at Barnet last weekend.

Up front there are further choices with strikers Josh Neufville, Olufela Olomola and Adi Yussuf all among the goals in the midweek Somerset Premier Cup win over Odd Down vying to take the place of Reuben Reid, Tom Knowles or Charlie Wakefield, who started last weekend at Barnet.

Speaking on Thursday, Charlie said: “We’re going to have to decide between us. There’s players who if they are starting to look tired will have to sit out and give the players who are firing their chance.

“There’s going to be rotation in the next few games because there’s going to be a short break for the next two (games against Aldershot Town and W*ymouth over the Easter period).

“There’s definitely players who are fighting for a place on Saturday, so we’ll see how it goes in the next two days in training.

“Whereas three games ago, the team picked itself, now we have a few more players who are fit and fighting for a place so we will see what happens Saturday.”

Smith has not featured since the 2-0 home defeat against Grimsby three weeks ago, whilst the manager said he took Olomola off with 20 minutes remaining against Odd Down.

The manager said: “Fela came off on Tuesday with a sore groin but I don’t think it’s too serious. As for the weekend, we’re not too sure but we’re hoping he’ll be fine.

“Grant is there. He’s fit and it’s good to have him back. Ted is doing well, so that’s a good problem to have.”

That leaves only central defender Max Hunt, who is on his way back from an ankle injury, and on-loan Middlesbrough defender Jack Robinson, who has featured for two months.

Lee expects both to be back in full training next week.

Lee is not expecting an easy ride at the weekend with King’s Lynn Town having beaten promotion pushing FC Halifax Town and Bromley in their last two matches on home soil.

But, he promised that, despite being sat comfortably in mid-table in the National League, his side would not be giving their hosts an easy game.

He said: “They might think we are a team they want to play being in mid-table, but we are going to make it really hard for them.

“We have to give every team we play now everything to the best of our ability.”

“(King’s Lynn) are one of the league’s in-form teams and they have had a really good last five games and beaten some good teams.

“Playing teams fighting for survival is not easy, but the boys know that.”

There was much praise for the efforts of the young members of the Glovers’ side which turned out in the Somerset Premier Cup semi-final against Bath-based Odd Down on Tuesday night.

Defenders Jake Graziano and Ollie Haste and midfielder Toby Stephens all started the match, with striker Fin Skiverton, the son of legendary defender, Terry, Callum Deemer and Korey Andrews all appearing as substitutes in a strong line-up with eight of the starting XI having played for the first team this season.

Charlie Lee said: “It was a really positive evening, all the boys performed really well.

“The ones who have been involved with the first-team had a great attitude to it and the young lads who came in performed superbly.

“It was a great win, a great evening and all part of keeping that unbeaten run going.”

All six of the youngsters have turned out for the club’s Under-18s with Haste and Stephens both presently on loan at Southern League side Barnstaple Town and Skiverton Junior playing for Street in the Western League Premier Division, one above Odd Down.

Alex Bradley. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

There was also praise from the manager for Alex Bradley who was handed the captain’s armband for the fixture.

Lee added: “He played like a leader, he got a tackle in the tenth minute that was probably a red card and he was struggling.

“It was an impact injury, so it is not something for the long term but he could easily have come on, but he played a proper captain’s role.

“To show that respect to the club and competition tells you where the players are at the minute.”

Striker Adi Yussuf is observing the Islamic holy month of Ramadan meaning he is unable to eat or drink between dawn and sunset.

The Tanzanian striker returned after a spell on international duty and played his first minutes in the win over Odd Down in midweek.

Adi Yussuf. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Charlie said: “He will get all the help we will give him. He won’t ask for help, we will offer it. He had it all played when he was allowed to take on fluid.

“He doesn’t want it to become a problem, he knows what to do in every day and all the players are doing that. It’s a tough ask, but Adi is up for the job of doing that.“

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Charlie Lee spoke of his pride in his Yeovil Town players who fought back to earn a point at Barnet in the caretaker manager’s first game in charge.

The Glovers took the lead after just nine minutes when Tom Knowles robbed the hosts from a free-kick, burst forward and smashed home the opener, only to go 2-1 behind before Reuben Reid grabbed an equaliser eight minutes from time.

Lee was assisted on the touchline by injured midfielder Josh Staunton as the post-Darren Sarll era got underway in North London.

Charlie Lee speaks to the BBC ? YTFC

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the game, he said: “It’s been such a tough week with everything that has happened. To come out with a new person in charge, I am so proud of them.

“Everything about the day was brilliant including the fans, we sold so many tickets there, it’s just unbelievable. Stuff like that people don’t know what it means to me and the players.

“We were trying so hard to win for them and it just would have topped off an unbelievable week.”

The 288 travelling supporters at The Hive left the former midfielder in no doubt about their feelings towards him with “Charlie Lee’s green and white army” ringing around the ground from the first whistle until the last, something which was not lost on him.

He said: “I tried to concentrate on the game but when you hear the name singing your name it’s a very proud moment.

“I have loved playing for this club, every minute and to get my first chance of managing, I will do the best I can.

“I promised in my press conference on Friday that these players will work until the last game, they showed it today.

“You had 14 players today trying everything to win for those fans and when you get support like that, I promise you the players will give everything they have.”

Lee could not hide his disappointment at not winning match with a number of golden opportunities to grab three points after the equaliser, not least a header from defender Ben Barclay which went wide.

He said: “We started unbelievably well and looked a threat in all aspects, but in two spells were a bit sloppy and ended up going 2-1 down.

“As they always will, the boys were fit and will always go to the end and we just thought (the winning goal) was coming.

“We were gutted we could not get there in the end, but really pleased with the way they worked.”

Josh Neufville appeared as a 72nd minute substitute in place of Charlie Wakefield with Olufela Olomola replacing goalscorer Reid with four minutes to go,

Josh Neufville. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Neufville immediately showed his quality linking up well with fellow substitute Sonny Blu Lo-Everton to carve out a chance moments after his arrival.

Lee admitted he is having to restrain himself from throwing the Luton Town man in to the fray, but said he is getting closer to a start.

The caretaker boss said: “We were told when we got him to be careful and we took him earlier than Luton would have expected, but they knew we would manage him well and when you have a player like that it is hard not to rush him back in.

“But the boys have been good, I thought Sonny  looked excellent when he came on as well and Fela and that’s been the story of the last few weeks, it’s been the boys who have come on and made an impact as well.

“So we have people really pushing for a start next week (against King’s Lynn).”

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Goalkeeper Grant Smith could be available for Yeovil Town‘s trip to Barnet this week having sat out the last three games through injury.

Grant Smith. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Caretaker manager Charlie Lee said the keeper had impressed in training this week and would be in contention for the match in North London.

On loan West Brom keeper Ted Cann has been between the post for the past three games – all of which have ended in wins for the Glovers.

Speaking on Friday ahead of the match, Lee said: “Grant is looking good, we will see how he is today, it’s good to have him firing. He’s nearly fully fit.”

Striker Adi Yussuf is back at the club having been missing for the past fortnight on international duty with Tanzania and the boss said he would be assessed in training today.

Central defender Max Hunt has had a slight set back as he makes his way back from an ankle injury which has kept him out since the end of January.

Charlie said: “Hunty has done well, he’s having a little problem with his quad. He’s not too far away, but not for tomorrow.”

The game will be Lee’s first in the hot seat following the departure of Darren Sarll to join National League rivals, Woking, but he has done his homework on Barnet, who Yeovil beat 1-0 in the reverse fixture in December.

Of the opponents, he said: “We have looked in to Barnet and we know they have good players. They have had an up and down season similar to us, but we have to do what we have been doing lately.

“We know what we are good at and we have to do that.“

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New Yeovil Town manager Charlie Lee has said he is “up for the challenge” having been thrust in to the first-team manager’s job by the departure of Darren Sarll this week.

He will take charge of the team for tomorrow’s visit to Barnet having led training all week and taken the team through remembering the first anniversary of the death of ex-skipper Lee Collins this week.

Charlie Lee. ? Mike Kunz

Speaking on Friday ahead of the trip, he said: “I’m up for the challenge, it’s a really good opportunity for me to have a go at picking the team and taking the training, it’s a great opportunity and one I am really looking forward too.

“It’s a great group of lads and they are really up for helping me, I will be leaning on the players a lot.

“We are just taking it game by game, I said to the players this week ‘this is where you learn to be winners’, if you want to win anything in your career, you have got to take every game as it comes, you can’t waste anything.

“Some people might think there’s nothing to play for – your playing for yourself, your family, contracts and the fans, who have been brilliant with this group of players all season.

“We owe the club and the fans to make sure we are ready for every game and we will be.”

The former combative midfielder added that he did not expect the team’s style to change from that adopted by Sarll and  said he would take the same approach to management as he did as a player.

Hesaid: “I expect players who are playing for me, for however long that is, to work hard and give everything every game and find that bit of quality when it’s needed.

“It has been going really well these last few games and I have been really happy where we are and now we have to not take our foot off the pedal. We have to keep going and be ready for Saturday.”

The new boss said the Glovers’ squad would need the backing of supporters as much as they are ever have done as they start life without Sarll.

He spoke about “everything that has been going on behind-the-scenes” which we interpret as meaning both the loss of Lee Collins but also the uncertainty around the ownership of the club.

Speaking this week, midfielder Josh Staunton admitted the lack of clarity was unsettling for the club’s young squad.

Lee said: “The fans have been unbelievable with me in all my time at the club and the hardest time we had was when they were not in the ground.

“That was heart-breaking because we had built up such a good relationship and we missed them this season.

“The best thing about this season is how well the fans and the players have connected with everything that is going on behind the scenes.

“I would be lying if I said we didn’t need them between now and the end of the season, we are going to need them as much as we ever have. If they keep turning up, we will keep playing as hard as we can.”

Lee admitted he had not been expecting to take up the managerial hot-seat so soon having returned as assistant manager in February.

However, he said he had been looking to get in to coaching ever since he left Huish Park as a player at the end of last season having already completed his coaching qualifications.

Asked whether he saw himself as a contender for the job, permanently he said: “That is something I am not thinking about, at the minute we have to take it game by game and we would be foolish to do anything else.

“I have no idea what the future holds for me in this role, but I know we have a game tomorrow and we have to prepare for it.

“You realise when you have been in the game more than 20 years, things like this happen. You never expect it to be you, but you have to be ready to embrace it when it does happen.”

Asked about Sarll, who quit Huish Park to take up the manager’s job at National League rivals Woking on Monday, Charlie added: “The Gaffer is a great man. What he did at Yeovil people realise but they might not know what he did for the club and players especially.

“The players especially owe him and Terry (Skiverton) and Craig (Wight) a great deal for what they have done in the last year of our lives.

“He will be successful wherever he goes. I will be in touch a lot and we wish him all the luck, that’s all I can say. He should be very proud of what he did in his time at Yeovil.”

 

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Carl Dickinson in action for Yeovil Town.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Former Yeovil Town Captain Carl Dickinson has given his full support to Charlie Lee as he takes up the reigns at Huish Park following the departure of Darren Sarll.

Speaking exclusively to the Gloverscast, Dicko, a former teammate of Lee said that the former midfielder has all the attributes to make it a success.

“Charlie has played at different levels with different manager that have had success so he will have definitely learned from the them and will take bits that he wants to take from them the he thinks will be successful.

“He’s passionate and demands high standards and is very knowledgeable”

Lee joins Dickinson at Hanley Town and others from the 2019/20 side who have since gone into coaching, Jimmy Smith is now in the Chelsea set up, Dicko says it’s not a surprise to see Lee in coaching, albeit maybe not this soon.

“Charlie has always been passionate about helping people with the experiences he has had, so it’s no surprise to me that he’s now coaching, 

“This will probably have come a lot quicker than he imagined but I’m sure he’s excited and ready for the challenge, he will have people he can speak to and ask for advice as well”

Charlie Lee controls the midfield
? Mike Kunz

One of those people, is Carl himself.

“I’ve sent him a message wishing him all the best, he knows I’m always on the end of the phone if he ever wants to chat about anything.”

It’s been mentioned that Charlie Lee takes over a good group with some experienced heads in the team including Luke Wilkinson,

“He’s got a good relationship with all the lads, let alone Wilko, I think it’ll be a case of just making sure they keep ticking over and maintaining the standards they’ve set over the last two or three weeks.”

Dickinson ended with a simple plea to fans, “Keep cheering Chaz and the boys home”.

We will, Dicko, we will.

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Yeovil Town caretaker manager Charlie Lee has said he is “really excited” by the opportunity to take charge of the first-team following the shock departure of Darren Sarll.

The former midfielder has taken the job for “the forseeable future” after the manager who brought him back to the club as his assistant last month quit to take over as National League rivals Woking on Monday.

Lee, who  made more than 400 Football League appearances in his career, will be in the dug-out for Saturday’s visit to Barnet, when the Glovers are looking to continue a run of three back-to-back victories.

Speaking to the club’s YouTube channel, he said: “It’s been a strange weekend and a big 24 hours, but I am really excited by the opportunity.

“The boys were excellent, they are a great group and they work really hard and today was a successful day.

“The performances have been really hard, training has been top quality and I am really looking forward to the game Saturday.

“It will be exactly the same, the performances have been high, the boys have been spot on and the boys are really looking forward to the game.”

He admitted there were “mixed emotions” among the squad, many of whom were brought to the club by Sarll, but said they could not allow the departure to detract from the weekend’s fixture.

Lee added: “It’s an exciting time for me, but also a sad time because we were all very close to the Gaffer – but he’s moved on and we have to calm down after what has happened after the past few days.

“I don’t know how long it’s going to be, I am ready to take charge on Saturday, it’s game by game and I will do it until I am needed to do something else.”

 

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Former Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll has been speaking exclusively to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins following his departure from Huish Park.

The full interview went out on the BBC Somerset Breakfast show (07:48am for anyone wanting to listen back), in it, he told Sheridan that the opportunity at Woking excites him, but that he’ll always have a connection to YTFC.

“We certainly had some hurdles to jump, Terry Skiverton always asked me about whether I’m going to write a book on the three years at Yeovil. 

“It would be very interesting, from the play-offs, the COVID situation – players staying at the ground for weeks on end before the play off game, and then obviously the worst of the lot, losing Lee Collins and dealing with that personally, but also kind of leading the club out of that situation, I don’t want to have to do that again.

“This year, being reenergised by a brilliant, young group, with a wonderful spirit with a big future ahead of them.”

“Every year was different in terms of coach, every year was different in terms of management of it, every year was different in terms of the challenges we had to face and overcome, but it’s all maths isn’t it? You just have to work out the problem and try and come to the solution.”

“You add resilience to your coaching style and to you keep moving.”

Sarll and Skiverton
Terry Skiverton & Darren Sarll.
Pic: Mike Kunz.

Sheridan pointed out that the reaction to Sarll’s departure was one of disappointment and the former gaffer admitted it wasn’t easy to make the move.

“I’ll always have a connection with the football club, more so because of Lee and those events, I had a wonderful time there, year one was fantastic in terms of the winning, some of the performances and the results, the people I’ve met over the three years have been absolutely great and I’ll keep in touch with them for life.

“It came to point where decisions had to be made and I was really excited by this option, this was an option of a journey, really trying to help a club maximise it’s professionalism on the pitch and off the pitch”

“My trade is football management, I’m not arrogant enough to think that management jobs are just going to come to me and fall in my lap wherever I am in the country”

“When I was made Yeovil manager, I moved to the South-West, took my children out of another school, put them in another school, and we will move back to our family home now and that process will happen again”

Looking ahead, Darren Sarll said he had full faith that interim manager Charlie Lee could help the Glovers get through to the end of the season in a positive vein of form.

Charlie Lee watches over the warm up ? Ben Barrett

“I recommended to Scott (Preistnall) that Charlie do it, the players absolutely love him, they’ve a huge amount of respect for him, he was a brilliant player, he’s a very, very good coach, and that’s something I am well qualified to say, he’s got a good eight or nine games and the team is in a bit of another winning run… he can’t lose, can he?”

 

 

Charlie’s first game in charge will be against Barnet, this coming Saturday.