Press Conference

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

Darren Sarll was happy with his Yeovil side’s ‘excellent’ performance as they sailed past Yate Town in FA Cup first round this afternoon.

Speaking to the BBC’s Sheridan Robins after the 5-0 win he praised the performance of his players and said he sees momentum  building in the team.

He said: “I thought their performance levels were very high, their training this week has been like a whole new level, really. We’re starting to find a little bit of momentum now and I thought some of the performances were excellent. I thought they dealt with the ball on quite a difficult pitch. We were very good, very good.

“The most important thing with this team, I keep saying it over and over again is, process, it’s progress, it’s time. And I just feel like we’re starting to really hit some form. When I was watching training this week I said to Terry (Skiverton), someone might get a bit of a slapping from us soon and today we started so fast, so athletically, so intense that would have been hard for a full time team to deal with.”

The Glovers started strongly in the first and second half and the manager indicated the quick openings are part of the plan.

“We’ve got a very small set of unique skills in our team and obviously the first one is athleticism. Some of them are very good athletically and we have to play at speed because they’re fast and there’s no point being fast and playing slowly.”

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Yeovil Town boss Darren Sarll has revealed the club couldn’t say no to QPR on the deal offered for Alfie Lloyd.

The academy product’s move to QPR was confirmed earlier this week after he had a successful trial at the London club.

Speaking to the press today, Sarll said: “It was a brilliant deal, we could not say no. It is the best deal in terms of monetary value that the club has done for 4-5 years. It is a good deal up front and a good deal if Alfie is successful and it is a good deal for Alfie in terms of his football career and education and that is what he needs. We are really pleased for him because he is a brilliant guy and we are delighted for him.”

Sarll stressed the importance of good finances at the club, given the uncertainty COVID has caused, and touched on the deals we’ve done this season, presumably the selling of Myles Hippolyte, Courtney Duffus and Lloyd.

“Everyone knows we are in COVID financial times and money is at a premium, so we needed to do it. We have sold three players and we have brought in what is moving to hundreds of thousands of pounds in remuneration, so that is all good. That will only create a stronger foundation and that is what is going to have to happen. That is like any business. What we have seen over the years, so many mistakes with young players who spend ages out on loan and then get released. We are in a position next season where every penny has to be spent very wisely and next season if players can’t contribute to the first team, we can’t have them with us.”

Sarll praised his young signings, Tom Knowles, Alex Bradley and Max Hunt. He talked about the character they bring to the squad, and how the experiences of this season will only improve them.

He said: “The experience young players are getting on and off the pitch has been huge, but we have to get through this difficult time.
They will only be better for these life and football experiences. I am really excited about players like Tom Knowles, Alex Bradley, Max Hunt, they are going to be brilliant players for the club.

“We need to make sure we keep that character because the team that fell out of the League was devoid of character in my opinion. We need to keep that in senior players, but there are also young players out there with that same character that you need. Look at Tom Knowles, his strength of character means he’s as tough as old boots, brave as a lion, takes the ball, gets kicked and gives it back.”

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Darren Sarll faced the media following Yeovil’s 3-0 loss against Wrexham and talked of the side’s fragility both mentally and physically.

All three goals came in the first half in Wales with Shaun Pearson, Luke Young and a wonderful free kick from Jordan Davies giving the home side an unassailable lead before the break.

When asked to sum up his side’s performance, Sarll said:“There’s a fragility to us, that’s probably the best way how we explain… and it’s all coming up at once, at a tough time for us all.”

Prior to the game, assistant Terry Skiverton said that Yeovil were down the bare bones in terms of fit and available players, a situation which has been made worse, with issues reported for Matt Worthington and Albi Skendi, who both had to come off before half time, with Max Hunt and Carl Dickinson playing through an injury as well as concerns for Alex Bradley and Rhys Murphy prior to kick off.

On his injury crisis, Sarll added: “If I told you the stories of injured players or ill players … I couldn’t write it.”

BBC Somerset’s Tom Seymour confirmed the full extent of the Glovers’ injury problems after the game.

 

Despite the negative result, Sarll did make sure to recognise the positives from a more resilient second half display. “I thought second half, we did better, we contained, we didn’t ever look like scoring a goal, and we were just patching up and plastering over our wounds from the first half.”

The second half also saw the introduction of Toby Stephens, an academy graduate and at just 17 years old, someone Yeovil fans would have been excited to see.

Sarll joked, he was the only fit central midfielder at the club at the moment, before taking time to praise the youngsters cameo appearance.

“Toby deserved to play today, the way he trained yesterday, he deserved to come onto the pitch today… he deserves the opportunity He’s with us for next season, under contract, I really like Toby, I have to remind of his midfield duties, but he took the ball, tried to win it back. For someone at 17 years-old, I think he’s got a really great opportunity, but we are going to have to create a better environment for him to progress.”

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Terry Skiverton gave a very honest assessment of how he’s been handling a tough season on and off the pitch at Huish Park.

When asked if the he was still enjoying his roles at the club, the club legend gave a very honest answer: “No, I’m not going to lie, it’s been probably my hardest time throughout my career at Yeovil.”

The club is still processing the shocking loss of Captain Lee Collins who passed away in March as well as trying to negotiate a behind-closed-doors season in a global pandemic.

“Because of what happened [Lee Collins’ passing] and my relationship with Lee within the squad, he was the Captain of the football club, he was number four, we shared the same shirt number, the same roles and responsibilities as a Captain, so no, it’s been really hard to come in every day and make sure we are upbeat and giving energy to the players.”

Skiverton acknowledged his role as a leader within the coaching staff and recognised that he had a part to play in getting his players, colleagues and supporters through a hard time.

“One thing that we do here, is make sure we come up to work, we arrive at work and make sure we are rocking and rolling, so the players know they have staff behind them ready to go. We are all in, we are going to turn up on a Saturday and try and get a result. They need to see that, feel that and they need to know that we are 100% behind them, alongside them, in front of them, and we are leading in the right way as well.”

There’s no doubt the events of the last month have taken their toll on everyone associated with Yeovil Town and it was refreshing to hear a club legend like Skiverton speak so honestly, and openly.

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Yeovil Town Assistant Manager Terry Skiverton took media duties ahead of the trip to Wrexham and he suggested that, despite the injury problems, the Glovers aren’t ready to take their foot off the pedal in the hunt for success.

Speaking to the BBC, when asked about the squad’s fitness status ahead of the trip to Wales, Skiverton said: “It’ll be touch and go, a lot of the players have been in, in doing their rehab. We’ve got a real small group training today [Thursday] and then tomorrow we will do something that’s very, very light and we will have to readjust and get the right squad that travels up so that everybody’s fit.”

With the season drawing to a close and the squad looking very thin, Skiverton – who also doubles up as the Academy Manager at Huish Park – said we might get to see a few new, younger, faces over the coming games.

“We are a little bit down to the bare bones, we’ve got a few of the younger boys that have come up and will be training with us today and maybe surprising by seeing one or two in the squad come Saturday, we will just have to wait and see.”

Yeovil included Toby Stephens in the squad for the game against Halifax who is a regular with the Under-18s, whilst goalkeeper Max Evans has been a regular in the travelling parties and of course, Alfie Lloyd – who has plenty of goals in green and white at youth level – has also made the squad this season.

Lloyd wasn’t part of the Under-18s last fixture following confirmation that he has spent time on trial with QPR recently, so his involvement is unclear.

When asked about how the club are tackling the run in to a season, which looks likely to end in a mid table finish, Skiverton admitted it hasn’t been easy for everyone, but that there’s no sense of throwing in the towel just yet.

“It’s been tough, even today with me coming in today and doing the press, the Manager [Darren Sarll] has been feeling a bit flat. We’ve had two really good performances and two good wins, but to come up short on Monday, we’ve been flat after that. We’ve still got to make sure we’re pushing, we’re playing for our supporters every week, who are right behind us – that’s right at the forefront of our minds. The group we’ve got, with the manager, with the football club, we won’t sacking nothing off, our supporters want to see hard work, determination, character. They want to see us defending well and scoring goals.”

With everyone at the club was fighting for their futures and plenty of players out of contract, Skiverton reaffirmed that the attitude of everyone continues to be hardworking and professional.

The Glovers head to play-off chasing Wrexham on Saturday with a 3pm kick-off.

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Yeovil Town Manager Darren Sarll spoke to the media following the Glovers’ 3-0 loss to Halifax and bemoaned both the home side’s inability to take the chances the created as well as the officials.

“… we have made more chances today against Halifax than their last four games put together… and the subsequent missing of those chances; you look at Billy’s (Sass-Davies) header, the two free kicks from 18 yards out, the penalty decision, (Chris) Dagnall didnt force that one in on the line…”

Yeovil can rue not only their lack of clinical finishing in front of goal, but also another fine performance from the visitors ‘keeper, Sam Johnson who tipped a Reuben Reid effort onto the post early in the 2nd half as well as making plenty of other fine saves during the game.

Sarll also broke Rule 1 of the Gloverscast by complaining about the referee saying that Elliot Swallow’s performance was… “absolutely disgusting”.

Both Joe Quigley and Reuben Reid has penalty claims turned down, whilst there were also plenty of questionable decisions including when a Halifax defender made an excellent interception from a dangerous Tom Knowles cross, only for the referee to give a goal kick.

Sarll took time to praise both Knowles and Josh Neufville after what he called a “slapped wrist” at half time saying “I thought they stood up as men, which is a great quality in a young man.”

Huish Park was at mercy to the elements for much of the game, with wind being described as ‘ferocious’ by Sarll post-match, he would go on to admit that his side didn’t use the conditions to their advantage enough in the first half.

Rhys Murphy and Matt Worthington were both omitted from the squad recovering from slight injuries whilst Charlie Lee was suspended following his booking in the win over Solihull.

 

 

Read the match report here

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Darren Sarll dedicated the Glovers’ 2-0 victory at Wealdstone to Lee Collins‘ daughter, Amelia. First half goals from Tom Knowles and Joe Quigley were enough for the Glovers, who climbed to 13th in the table.

Speaking to the BBC, Sarll said: “We had Lee’s funeral on Wednesday and his ten-year-old daughter, Amelia, had quite the effect on us all and her little pep talk on a bad day was quite inspiring really, and that was for little Amelia – a wonderful, wonderful little girl. She beat me in one touch against the wall in the rain and I wasn’t even trying to lose, that’s how good a little player she is, so that was for her.”

He also praised his players after what was, understandably, another difficult week for a club in mourning.

“The players were magnificent. A credit to their football club, a credit to their families, a credit to Lee. Very ambassadorial really, in a way. We had forty minutes [of] training yesterday. It was, kind of, only an hour [of] preparation because we were still fatigued from the day’s events. They’re incredibly draining as everyone would know. I had the privilege and honour of speaking and I felt completely wiped out come Thursday and Friday.“

On the performance, he added: “I thought we had quite a few of those types of performances last year. Grounded and humble in the performance, worked very hard. (Our) shape was good and we saw the game out very well. Their young goalkeeper’s had a brilliant day in fairness to him, otherwise I thought it should have been more, but yeah it was good. If you’re going to win leagues, twenty-five percent of your wins are like those games today. Last year I thought we had quite a few of those, we haven’t had nearly enough this year.”

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Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll has reiterated his desire to help his players continue to progress on and off the field as the National League season draws to a conclusion.

When asked in his pre-match press conference if the club was still aiming for a play off place, Sarll admitted that with a squad who had been through so much it was simply a case of taking it slow.

“It’s been an incredibly draining week, there’s been no let off for the players. I’m hoping the players can cope mentally with everything and just to try and keep performances positive. I’m sorry to be boring, but it’s a day at a time and it’s a game at a time,” he said.

Looking back at the turnaround from the 5-1 defeat to Solihull Moors to the 3-0 win, Sarll praised the players who came in and made a difference.

“Charlie (Lee) was a huge influence, I never in my wildest dreams (Chris) Dagnall would do the covering and tackling like he did, the construction of the side, the motivation of the side just felt more organic.”

The  gaffer would go on to reiterate his praise for Joe Quigley following his perfect hat trick in midweek and the forward’s contract extension. He also took time to single out Charlie Lee and Albi Skendi for their contributions to the Glovers 3-0 win on Tuesday.

Yeovil travel to Wealdstone this Saturday with a 3pm kick off. For more info from the Wealdstone camp, read here.