Darren Sarll (Page 3)

Darren Sarll is hoping to keep central defender Ben Barclay on loan from National League rivals Stockport County until the end of the season.

The 25-year-old has impressed in his five appearances since being brought in to fill the void left by an injury to Max Hunt at the end of January.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s home game with Dagenham & Redbridge the manager said he was happy with the recruitment he had done this season not least the former loan signing of Millwall full-back Dan Moss.

Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Sarll said: “The recruitment has had to be good because we can’t afford to waste a penny. There was a framework around our recruitment to bring in young, athletic players with something to prove and an ambition to play higher.

We are very tight in terms of capabilities and I’m happy with all our recruitment. Ben has been fantastic and I’m hoping he will be with us until the end of the season.”

Unfortunately, due to his own work commitments our Gloverscast roving reporter Ben Barrett could not attend today’s press conference, so that closing remark is as much as we know about the manager’s ambition to keep Barclay at the club.


Defender Max Hunt will definitely be missing for the weekend as he makes his way back to fitness from an injury which has put him out since the 2-1 defeat to Wrexham last month.

Midfielder Dale Gorman is out through suspension and will also miss next Tuesday’s trip to Maidenhead United.

Of other injuries, the manager added there would be a couple of late checks on players including on-loan defender Jack Robinson who was not involved at Eastleigh last weekend.

Sarll said: “It’s touch and go for one or two of them, Jack Robinson is one of them, I won’t say the other one.


The anticipated windy conditions with Storm Eunice expected to be hanging around in the Westcountry over the weekend could decide the way Yeovil set-up against Dagenham.

Sarll said: “With the conditions, it is going to be a massively difficult task. If there’s one condition that everyone in football hates, it is wind.

That will change how we prepare and might change how we select the team, instead of being a bit more creative, we might be a bit more destructive.

We will have to see, those decisions can be left to game day. We have been fabulous away, but we have to be better at home.”


The manager said he believed the return of Charlie Lee as his assistant manager will have “an impact on the dressing room” at Huish Park.

The former Glovers’ midfielder was confirmed as Sarll’s number two on Thursday having agreed a short-term deal which we assume is until the end of the season.

Charlie Lee controls the midfield
? Mike Kunz

The manager said: “No-one knows me better than Charlie. He’s been one of the toughest players I have ever manager in terms of how spiky he is, he’s a real sod at times!

“But I wanted that impact in the dressing room, he doesn’t suffer fools and he’s a winner if you look at his career, he’s a winner.

“The things I can give him is an exposure to this position. I’m two decades in and Charlie’s less than a year in, so first and foremost he’s a brilliant guy who wants to be part of the football club – and he can handle my tantrums!

But the boss was keen to point out that Lee would not be a like-for-like replacement for his previous right-hand man, Terry Skiverton, the club legend who left to join League One Charlton Athletic’s coaching set up.

The boss had to stop himself from (perhaps) being critical of the decision to allow Skivo to leave the club saying: “Terry was Superman at Yeovil and unfortunately…..(pause, grimace, contemplation)…you realise what you had when it’s gone and we as a club were not in a position to protect that legacy.

“That’s a shame but as one door closes (another one opens) and it’s a big opportunity for Charlie to taste this world and how different is from playing.


“He has a good football brain, he’s seen a lot of things in football and he isn’t here to replace Terry, that’s impossible at this club.


“He’s here to bring something we have not had in recent weeks, it has been a tough four or five weeks without Terry, so I am delighted he’s with us.”

 


Striker Olufela Olomola will improve as he gets more matchday minutes, the boss added.

The Hartlepool United man made his third Glovers’ debut in last weekend’s goalless draw at Eastleigh having arrived on loan the previous day.

The manager said: “Every team has different levels (of fitness) and he’s probably playing in a different position to the one he’s had to play recently.

For different positions, you need different physical attributes, so I think it will take a few weeks to get him back up (and running).

“It was a much better performance in terms of the types of chances, I’m still disappointed at some of the work we did in forward areas.

“But, the midfield had better control, and I thought we were good value (for the win) given the level of dominance we had.

Alex Bradley has set himself the ambition of breaking in to the Yeovil Town midfield and manager Darren Sarll says he is not far away from doing it.

The versatile 23-year-old signed permanently last January having played as a right-back for his previous club Lincoln City and whilst on loan at Harrogate Town in the 2019-20 season and played 27 times for the Glovers last season – mostly at right-back.

Alex Bradley in conversation with manager Darren Sarll.

However, he has only started once for the Glovers this season in a midfield role in the 3-1 FA Trophy win over Woking in December and his only other game time has come from the substitutes’ bench.

Meanwhile, Sarll has brought in  Mark Little in the right-back slot and, when the experienced head was missing through injury he brought Dan Moss in on loan, with Morgan Williams also filling in.

Speaking ahead of the trip to Eastleigh on Saturday, the manager explained Bradley’s lack of starting appearances: “I signed Alex as a right back, but he thought – and I don’t disagree – that he would be more beneficial playing in midfield.

If someone commits to another position, the manager is reluctant to play him in a position he’s reluctant to play in.

“That drove our recruitment for another right back and for support for Mark when he was injured and Dan Moss was a top signing for us.

“It meant Alex was not competing with Mark Little and Jordan Barnett for a spot, he was competing with a bigger pool of midfield players and you have to be the best one.

“I don’t think there would be too many arguments if I said Josh Staunton, Matt Worthington and Dale Gorman have been among our best players this season, so it’s been harder for him to force himself in to the team.

“Alex has all the potential in the world, when he came in last year I likened him to Jack Stacey who is now at Bournemouth. You have these things as a manager and I know if Alex goes in at right back he gives it his all.”

Bradley played 13 minutes at the end of Tuesday night’s defeat at Wealdstone and six minutes in the closing stages of the derby draw against W*ymouth, but Sarll said he had seen “a real resurgence” in the player in recent weeks.

He said: “We have had to have lots of conversations, he’s probably in a stronger position than he has been right now.

“He has been training really well and I have seen a real hunger and desire in him and he’s made an impression when he’s come on.

“Those conversations between Alex and I have been beneficial.

Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll is aiming to bring a new player in to his squad ahead of this weekend’s trip to Eastleigh.

(If you missed it, the new player concerned was striker Olufela Olomola – see more here)

The boss also expects to unveil his new assistant manager next week and said he has picked an individual who is known to him and will have “the biggest impact” on his side.

Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll alongside former assistant, Terry Skiverton who departed a month ago.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

After Tuesday night’s defeat at Wealdstone, Sarll called for “a spike” in the dressing room on the playing or coaching staff – and it seems like he may be getting both in the next week.

On Friday, he said: “In my first year here we brought (striker) Mark Richards in at this stage of the season.

“I remember Luke Wilkinson saying ‘is that Mark Richards, blimey?’ He knew we were serious and trying to win it. Those moments can ignite a dressing room.

“I’m not sure we can afford a Mark Richards but we are still trying to do some work and we are hoping there will be a new one in before tomorrow (at Eastleigh).

With only three teams – Wealdstone and the division’s bottom two sides, King’s Lynn Town and Dover Athletic – having scored fewer than the Glovers’ 26 this season, it would be no surprise to see the arrival being in a forward position.

However, the new arrival does not seem like it will be left-sided midfielder Alfie Bridgman, the apprentice from Portsmouth who was reported to be training with the Glovers ahead of a loan move.

Sarll confirmed the 18-year-old trained with his side last week, adding: “There’s nothing much more to say about that.


The manager confirmed he expects to appoint his new number two next week, filling the void left by Terry Skiverton‘s departure to take up a coaching role at Charlton Athletic almost a month ago.

Sarll said he had not had time to conduct any interviews with potential candidates so the selection had been made by him going after the people he wanted.

He said: “Over the last couple of weeks, I have made phone calls to people who have qualities that we need. It’s about the quality they will bring to stimulate the dressing room, to make a difference and that takes a small pool of people.

“I have spoken to some friends, former colleagues, former players and took advice and also tried to whittle it down to a point that I knew the individuals who were going to have the biggest impact on our team.


“All I care about is winning, so who is going to help us win the most for the resources we have got?”


Full-back Mark Little and left back-turned-midfielder Jordan Barnett are both back in contention for tomorrow’s trip to Eastleigh.

Jordan Barnett
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Neither were included in the squad for the midweek trip to Wealdstone with Little still making his way back to full fitness after a long lay-off, and Barnett having picked up an ankle injury against Solihull Moors last weekend.

Sarll said: “Mark trained yesterday (Thursday) and should be okay for tomorrow (at Eastleigh).

“Jordan should be okay. He’s got our training session today (Friday) to pass the test, but he should be okay.

“He would have been a real benefit to us on Tuesday night with his width, his left foot and his pace, so if he’s fit and available, he’ll be in contention.

However, the trip to the South Coast is unlikely to see midfielder Lawson D’Ath feature.

The former Reading youngster did not feature in midweek having come off the bench to play 70 minutes of the goalless draw with Solihull.

The manager said: “We are trying to strengthen Lawson a little bit further. The 70 minutes (against Solihull) was maybe a bridge too far, even if he won’t admit it.

“We are doing a physical programme for him to get stuck in too. If I felt that Lawson could cope, he would play every minute of every game, he’s been fabulous.

“He’s a really good player and I want to make sure he does not go through the same journey as he did last year when he put himself on the coal face and almost cost his career (to help us).

 

 

Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll told BBC Somerset he is dealing with a lot of “anger” and “frustration” following his side’s 2-1 defeat away at Wealdstone.

Speaking directly after the final whistle, the boss gave a frank and honest interview on how he saw the game.

He said: “(I’m) very disappointed for our travelling supporters, because they’ve come so far tonight, I think it’s very hard for any coach to defend any performance when the fundamentals of any game are not met and we had a unique habit of just giving the ball away.”

Sarll said on a couple different occasions that he felt his side played too many long passes and failed to show their optimum level of technical ability.

“Two of the worst goals (to concede) I’ve ever seen, by the way, and then you chase – and we’re not a great team at having a lot of the ball and creating lots of chances, we haven’t got a lot of creativity or that individual ability in the final part of the game to do something out of the ordinary, it’s an indefensible performance in my eyes”

Sarll said he’s left his players know in no uncertain terms how he felt, and said he was frustrated at his sides couldn’t figure out how to break down an ever increasingly defensive host.

“We did our absolutle best to take any momentum out of the game after that (Dale Gorman’s goal), we went from scoring goal – a bit of a razz – there was a bit of a melee and then we did our best to have a goal kick, which we will kick again on their head, then we give away a throw and not defend that properly and then we will give away a free kick where we are trying to fight and jostle our way back into the game… they take the sting out of the game”

There was praise for the introduction of Sonny Blu Lo Everton, but the manager highlighted the absence of Lawson D’ath who he did want to “break” with so many games in quick succession but he reiterated that he needed to find reinforcements on and off the pitch.

Sarll said: “This needs a spike in the changing room, it needs some characters, it needs some players, I’ll ask the question because it does need some freshness in there.

“I think some of the young ones are being worn down by a campaign, some of them are at the 25/26 game mark where they probably haven’t been before.”

“I definitely need to look at the structure of the coaching staff, who and how we replenish the position left by Terry (Skiverton) because I think that can be a big one at times”

Yeovil Town will hope to have a “spike” or two added before the away game at Eastleigh on Saturday.

 

Darren Sarll says he believes his Yeovil Town side are getting back on a run of form having gone three matches unbeaten with a goalless draw against  Solihull Moors today.

The point against the visitors, who moved in to sixth in the National League table with the result means, the Glovers have now won one and drawn two of their last three matches, having lost their previous six in all competitions.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Ian Randall after the game at Huish Park, the manager said he was pleased to have another match coming up on Tuesday night at Wealdstone to try and keep the momentum going.

Sarll said: “I feel we are back on a mini run now. We go (to Wealdstone) with a lot of confidence.

“We have conceded one goal in three games, I know we have only scored one (well, W*ymouth scored the other for us – sorry Adi) but defensively we have given ourselves a really strong foundation to move forward from again.

“The players will come out from seven days with belief they can defend and keep clean sheets and that gives us confidence throughout the team.

“The team knows they only need one or two chances to win a game and that is probably the team we are, and we either make the most of those chances and take the three points or don’t and settle for one – but at least we are settling for points.

He described his back four of Mark LittleBen BarclayLuke Wilkinson and Morgan Williams as “a different class” as they kept out a Solihull side which had scored 15 times in their previous four matches

But, for all their defensive qualities, the lack of a goal-scorer was painfully apparent as the Glovers drew a blank in front of goal.

Sarll said he believed Joe Quigley, who was departed for Chesterfield last month with chairman Scott Priestnall blaming falling attendances for the sale, would have “thrived” on the chances created today.

He said: “We obviously need a centre forward of a Rhys Murphy-type, who is going to concentrate on goals.

“We have Adi Yussuf who is a wonderful foil and Reuben Reid who is excellent with his back to go, but we could do with another.

“But, we are working with what we have, I don’t see any cavalry coming to support, so we have go to keep improving them as players.

“The more they get in there, the more they will have seen it and the more they will go through the process of what is right and wrong.

Sarll said agreed with the interviewer that the best chance of game fell to Charlie Wakefield as the first half drew to a close.

The former Chelsea youngster burst clear of the Solihull defence, but his effort was saved by the foot of Moors’ keeper Ryan Boot.

The manager said: “(Charlie) is re-training because he’s been a wide player all his life, but, because of his pace, he creates a different type of chance than those we have been creating.

“So we have to allow him the experience of getting in to those positions and having time to think about it before he makes the next step of being a potent goal-scorer. I think Charlie can get there.”

Jordan Barnett, who limped off after 22 minutes this afternoon with an ankle injury, is “one of two or three” injuries which the boss will be taking in to the midweek trip to Wealdstone.

Lawson D’Ath. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz

But, the manager praised Barnett’s replacement, Lawson D’Ath, who played the rest of the match despite it being only his second appearance after a nine-month lay-off through injury.

Sarll said: “I asked (Lawson) if he could achieve 70 minutes and he said ‘of course’, like they always do, but at the end there he had a little stretch off where cramp was starting to seep in.

“Straight away when he came on he turned the momentum of the game because he’s such an intelligent footballer.

“He takes up the right positions with no preparation in that role and he handles the ball beautifully, so to get him through 70 was great which will hopefully stand him in good stead for next Saturday (at Eastleigh).

“I’m not sure his body will allow him to go again on Tuesday, but maybe.

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.

Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll.

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.

Nick Crittenden in action for Yeovil Town. Picture courtesy of Ciderspace,.

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.

Josh Staunton could be back in contention for tomorrow’s National League fixture with Solihull Moors at Huish Park, according to manager Darren Sarll.

The midfielder missed the last two games after through injury fortnight ago and had been expected to miss three matches, which would put him out until the visit to Wealdstone on Tuesday night.

But, Sarll said he was expecting Staunton to be putting him “in a position” to consider him for selection in the Glovers’ training session on Friday.

Speaking ahead of that match, the manager said: “Josh is going to train today (Friday), so I think there is going to be a very difficult conversation today at 2pm between our physio.

Josh Staunton, who has missed the past two matches through injury.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

“Josh is a very demanding patient, he wants to get to the next bit yesterday and knowing him he will train this morning, get through it and then he’ll knock on my door and saying ‘I’m ready to go.’

“There should be more of a scientific process of coming back to play, but when you have got players like Josh Staunton who are ready to play with pain.

“I’m going to hold on to see how he does in training, knowing Josh he’ll be smashing in to things before the session has even started and he might put me in to a position (where I have to consider him) for tomorrow.”

He also revealed that midfielder Matt Worthington was “feeling tight” after coming off in the 67th minute of Tuesday night’s 1-1 derby draw with W*ymouth and would need to be reviewed ahead of the visit by Solihull.


 

Midfielder Lawson D’Ath can help to create more chances to get our strikers firing, the boss said.

The 29-year-old made his first appearance after nine months out through injury as a 67th-minute substitute against W*ymouth having re-signed until the end of the season.

Sarll said: “If you look at the creation of chances, we have tried to add to that by bringing Lawson in and even on Tuesday night, his passing, the way the ball arrives in front of the player just right. So many opportunities this season have been passed up because we have not got that creative timing right, so I am hoping as Lawson gets fitter and accustomed to game time, he will give us that.

He quickly added that he believed the former Reading youngster was “nowhere near fit enough to start a game” yet.


Solihull Moors strikers Danny Newton and Andrew Dallas were both players that Darren Sarll spoke with about coming to Yeovil in the summer.

Newton played for the manager at Stevenage and joined this weekend’s opponents instead, whilst Dallas was also someone who the boss looked at.

He said: “I know Danny very well, I brought him to Stevenage from Telford, and he was a player we spoke with and we would have liked him with us. Andrew Dallas was someone they acquired from Cambridge for a fee which was out of our capabilities. I don’t know Andrew, but I know Danny, he did really well for me at Stevenage coming out of National League North and in to the League. They are in good form and Neal (Ardley) is a very experienced coach and a good guy, so these are tough games but they are the ones we have applied ourselves well in the past. I am looking forward to this one more than I was on Tuesday, it’s a good game for us.”

Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll said his side deserved to win the game against W*ymouth after coming from a goal down to secure a point.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins, Sarll admitted the first half needed improving on, but that his side probably deserved to take all three points.

He said: “After that second half there’s only one team who deserved to win the game, in terms of goal mouth entries – they had one good chance in the second half – but apart from that they’ve had the mistake that we’ve made (for the goal) and one very good chance [in the] second half. 

We’ve had multiple entries and I said to them, you need to take heart from the second half, but understand we have got to make it like that for 90 minutes.”

Adi Yussuf forced the ball goalwards for the Glovers’ equaliser, and could have won the game with the final kick of the game, but couldn’t quite send the manager “flying down the touchline” in celebration.

“I thought we deserved to win the game”, continued Sarll, “just for oohs and aaahs, I thought we deserved to win the game because our intent early on was to win the game and we have to be a lot more composed and try and bring out – and try and bring out – those creative instincts in the players.”

There was praise for the constant threat offered by Charlie Wakefield who was described as the “find of the F-ing century” as well as the introduction of Reuben Reid who both posed a threat for the hosts, as well as the returning Lawson D’ath.

“His footballing intelligence is excellent, really excellent, I loved having him back out there, he does give us that genuine opportunity to play with two midfielders like when [Josh] Staunton is available, and he gives us a way, a vision – he can pick a pass and pick someone out.

When you’ve got receivers like Wakefield, Adi and Reuben and Tom Knowles you need someone who is going to be able to distribute the ball.”

Yeovil are back in action hosting Solihull Moors on Saturday kicking off at 3pm

Dan Moss, Josh Staunton and Joe Quigley defend vs Weymouth
Credit: Weymouth Flickr

Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll, is looking forward to renewing the derby rivalry with W*ymouth.

Speaking ahead of the weekend’s game against Woking to the Gloverscast he said he was excited to give the fans a performance to be proud of.

They are brilliant games, I get quite nervous for them but that is because I know the importance of them.”

“That penalty shoot-out (in the FA Cup) was horrendous, I questioned my faith!

David (Oldfield, W*ymouth manager) has gone in there and he’s a very good coach, they will have a different energy and strategy in them, it will be a different contest.”

“They have closed the gap with us from previous years.
Last season we were heavily dominant, but we will have to make sure we are well recovered from Woking.”

Sarll was hopeful of a positive result not just for the fans, but also to avoid having to work the players on Wednesday – which just so happens to be his 39th birthday.

Great games and supporters just make sure everyone gets there safe and goes home safely.”

“Birthdays don’t exist in football seasons. I will be grateful to get there in the current climate, it’s my 21st season in professional football – I probably look 49!
I’ll soon be up for the big 4-0! The players bring cakes in, I don’t know if I will though.”

“If we don’t win on Tuesday, we’ll be in (on Wednesday) and I’ll get a barrage of abuse from my wife and then that comes back on to them.”

Darren Sarll will be reporting referee Sunny Gill after Yeovil Town midfielder Dale Gorman was left with a cut on his head from an incident just seconds before the equaliser for Wrexham in today’s 2-1 defeat at Huish Park.

The manager described the decision to “poor play” with the Northern Irishman on the ground and Tom Knowles seemingly fouled in the build up to the equaliser scored on the hour by the visitors’ Paul Mullin.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the game, Sarll said: “I think the officials have to be very careful when they don’t put the health of players at the forefront of their minds.

“Dale has got cut on his head, so I will report him for that. That was poor play and Dale would have been in that hole that Mullin found himself in.

“I think that was their first shot on target and when you look at who it was that took the attempt, you realise there’s a calibre to goal-scoring and he (Mullin) certainly has that.

Now, according to guidance issued to referees: “Play is stopped if, in their opinion, a player is seriously injured or receives a head injury.” One can therefore only assume that Mr Gill did not think Gorman’s injury was to his head.

Despite the defeat, his sides six consecutive loss which means they are still looking for their first points of 2022, Sarll said he could not criticise his team and described the reception they received from supporters as “mind-blowing.

He said: “I thought we pressed the ball very well, the tempo was insane at times and the only tactical criticisms are the defending of crosses and the finishing, because we could have been high and dry.

We had some clear chances and that is good because we have not made many this year, today there was good creativity in the side, the dribblers and the ball carriers were outstanding.

We deserved to win the game on performance or at least get a point, but that is why I say these are the worst ones to explain.

He pointed to the departure of midfielder-turned-defender Josh Staunton after 76 minutes as a major blow. He limped off and was replaced by Alex Bradley meaning Mark Little, playing his first league game of the season, had to move in to an unfamiliar role in the middle of defence.

Sarll said: “The subs made us a bit disjointed and losing Staunton was huge because he stitches a lot of what we do together, then Mark (Little) had to play centre half.

“He shouldn’t have been on the pitch after an hour, he should have been off, he deserves a lot of credit for doing what he did.

“It disjointed our defensive structure and no blame on the individuals who came in to those positions but it just disjointed our defensive positions and flow.”