Supporters’ Alliance

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The minutes of the latest meeting of the Yeovil Town Supporters’ Alliance Group have shown further investment in security at Huish Park.

The meeting, held at the stadium on September 25th, show the club’s new Operations manager Keith Weston spoke to supporters’ groups about the investment and confirmed there had been “some club bans“.

In a response to a question from Glovers’ Trust chairman Roger Pipe at the meeting, the minutes show Mr Weston reported: “KW explained that there were no issues. He works closely with the police. There has been a lot of investment in security at the stadium including face recognition, some club bans, access control systems installed and bollards have been placed in various areas.”

In his opening remarks to the meeting, the chairman explained: “….that he acquired the club on 12 May and in 4 months had set up the fan zone, decorated Huish Park and sorted the finances. We have had the highest attendances in the league, both home and away, and the number of season tickets sold is up on previous seasons.”

Asked by Roger Pipe whether attendances had influenced budgeting, the minutes show: “MH replied that they had not. Cup games are a bonus.”

The owner also confirmed increased sales in the tea bars: “Card payment has been introduced and there is less wastage on hot food.”

Keith Weston also told the meeting the club was “looking at introducing new deals and Sunday lunches” having taken on a chef.

The minutes show: “The club is looking at growing hospitality events such as Xmas parties, weddings, conferences and meetings. The marquee will have a bar and there will be a catering unit on leaving the ground behind the Screwfix stand. New licencing procedures are being put in place.”

In a sign of the positive state of the club, questions about its financial stability and the ownership of the stadium by Somerset Council were limited.

Chairman Martin Hellier had led an overhaul of the club’s stadium since taking over in May.
Picture courtesy of Iain Morland.

The investment is the latest in a series of improvements led by owner Martin Hellier including a overhaul of the stadium and the establishment of the Ciderspace Fan Zone.

In his opening remarks to the meeting, the chairman explained: “….that he acquired the club on 12 May and in 4 months had set up the fan zone, decorated Huish Park and sorted the finances. We have had the highest attendances in the league, both home and away, and the number of season tickets sold is up on previous seasons.”

Asked by Roger Pipe whether attendances had influenced budgeting, the minutes show: “MH replied that they had not. Cup games are a bonus.”

The owner also confirmed increased sales in the tea bars: “Card payment has been introduced and there is less wastage on hot food.”

Keith Weston also told the meeting the club was “looking at introducing new deals and Sunday lunches” having taken on a chef.

The minutes show: “The club is looking at growing hospitality events such as Xmas parties, weddings, conferences and meetings. The marquee will have a bar and there will be a catering unit on leaving the ground behind the Screwfix stand. New licencing procedures are being put in place.”

In a sign of the positive state of the club, questions about its financial stability and the ownership of the stadium by Somerset Council were limited.

In the minutes, the chairman was asked if there was an progress on triggering the buy-back he holds on the land at Huish Park.

The minutes showed he “explained that he has the buy back rights and will do it when he feels it is right.”

 

The minutes of the latest Supporters’ Alliance meeting, held on September 25th, have been published by the Glovers’ Trust.

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Plans for development around Huish Park are expected to be available before Christmas, the minutes of the latest Supporters’ Alliance Group meeting have shown.

The minutes of the meeting held on October 13th were published on Tuesday by the Glovers’ Trust, and include a commitment from chairman Scott Priestnall that the preferred scheme will be open to public consultation before a planning application is submitted.

If you want to read the meeting minutes in full, click – here.

The chairman also told the meeting that he expects a formal application to be submitted next year.

The minutes show Mr Priestnall gave the meeting the following update: “He updated the meeting on the proposed developments during the last few months. He has been working with architects, consultancy firms and the council to produce drawings and to find out what developments are possible. The plans will go to public consultation before being submitted. There has been a lot of activity with the council during the past year. The details of the preferred scheme should be available before Christmas, but no formal application will take place this year. SP explained that he is not looking to just develop the land but to re-develop the stadium.”

When asked for further details on the proposals by Glovers’ Trust chairman Roger Pipe, the minutes show: “SP (Scott Priestnall) answered that there could be small retail establishments, with renting or leasing some buildings. There could be sports clinic and health provision. Also, player accommodation could be on site. There were no plans for office blocks or commercial premises.”

The publication of the minutes follow a series of social media exchanges between the Glovers’ Trust and the club on Monday night in response to an open letter asking questions about the planned development. The letter was drafted by the Trust and signed by other groups, including Gloverscast, and you can read more – here.

The minutes show a commitment from Mr Priestnall to making plans for the Huish Park site’s development open to public scrutiny.

Whilst the proof of pudding (or the publication of the plans for public scrutiny, at least) will be in the eating, the absence of a reference to housing development as part of the preferred scheme is positive, and the name-checked development feels like it could add to the viability of Huish Park as an operation outside matchdays.

In his closing remarks to the meeting, the chairman adds that the club needs “a long-term sustainable future.”

On the subject of the club’s finances, the minutes, Mr Priestnall reiterated that the National League is “still working” to have loans taken by clubs written off by Sport England. Yeovil Town took almost £1m in loans which are subject to “a four-year holiday period” during which no payment is necessary.

As we reported back in October, this detail was part of the chairman’s latest update to supporters. You can read more about that – here.

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The minutes of a meeting of the Yeovil Town Supporters’ Alliance have been published today.

The minutes are not yet agreed by all parties, as the Glovers’ Trust has requested an amendment to include a commitment by chairman Scott Priestnall to host an open forum for supporters which he made at the meeting on October 13th as well in a recent update he gave to fans.

For this reason, these minutes are better described as ‘draft’, but given their content seems to have caused a stir they have been published and we are pleased to re-publish them for your viewing pleasure…..


Minutes of the YTFC Alliance Meeting at Huish Park on Thursday 13 October 2022 at 13.00

Present:

  • Rich Rendall (RR) – Chairman of the Alliance/Green & White Supporters’ Club,
  • Scott Priestnall (SP) – Chairman and Owner (by Zoom)
  • Stuart Robins (SR) – Director,
  • Martyn Starnes (MS) – Chief Executive Officer,
  • James Hillier (JH) – Stadium Manager,
  • Mark Robinson (MR) – Commercial Manager,
  • Sam Collard (SC) – Media Department,
  • Roger Pipe (RP) – Chairman of the Glovers’ Trust
  • Terri Burt (TB) – Glovers’ Trust
  • Rob Newport (RN) – Cary Glovers
  • Emma Jarvis (EJ) – Commercial Assistant
  • Marilyn Cottle (MC) – Commercial Assistant/Junior Glovers

Apologies: Paul Hadlow (Green & White Supporters’ Club), Sharon Swain (Disabled Supporters’ Alliance – DSA), Simon Woodland (DSA).

RR opened the meeting and asked everyone to introduce themselves and their roles.

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved. RR spoke about the new season and remarked that the team are playing well and this needs to continue and draws to become wins. We would like to wish all the coaching and backroom staff success and our best wishes are with Marcus Stewart on the diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

RP asked about the racism incident at the York game.

JH explained that the police and the club have now closed their investigations. Supporters, stewards and officials were spoken to, but no-one heard anything. Nothing was reported on the day, it was only when the recording was shown on Monday. JH also spoke to Kick It Out for advice.

SC explained the position of the camera. The press box including BBC Somerset did not hear anything.

RP thanked the club for their investigation.

JH and MR then spoke about the impact the incident had brought on the club. The club have spoken to a number of key sponsors. SR reiterated that the club takes incidents like these very seriously, will not tolerate racism or discrimination in any form and operates a zero tolerance policy. The reputation of the club is at risk and social media comments were not helpful.

Updates from the previous meeting were discussed. RP said that communications had not improved.

JH updated the meeting on other projects. Planning for the marquee to be moved to the corner between the Screwfix and Thatcher’s stands is awaiting approval. The club are disappointed in the delay. The new scoreboard will be fitted shortly. Access control is working well. There are now Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) terminals in all areas and cards can now be used in all areas of the ground.

The new lift has been ordered and we are waiting for the installation date. The Football Foundation provided 70% of the cost, the G&WSC donated £2000, the DSA gave £2000 and £7000 was donated from the lottery department at the club.
The DSA are painting the barriers on the home terrace. We would like to thank the DSA for all their work.

RP asked why there was only going to be three sides open for the FA Cup match with Taunton.
JH said that there was a cost implication to open the Screwfix Stand. The expected crowd is 2500 and they can be accommodated in the other stands. There would be a bar behind the away terrace and the tea bars were opening early.
RP asked about the issues with entry to the Screwfix Stand for league games.
JH explained that the new scanners have now arrived and there will be 2 gates open in the future. RR asked if it could be advertised which gates are open.
RP asked why the lights were on at the Boreham Wood match.
JH said that the referee insisted that they stay on. There have been discussions in the EFL to change KO times to 1pm to conserve energy. However, this could mean teams staying overnight and problems for fans to arrive by 1pm. The club will continue to save money, but there are no plans to close the Screwfix Stand for league games.

MC explained that the Junior Glovers are no longer a separate section. All young people under 16 who purchase a season ticket receive a free shirt. We are including children more on match days. Mascots are now allowed, and we have local teams as guard of honour and flag bearers. We have introduced a penalty shootout at half time for youth teams.

SP joined the meeting by Zoom.

He updated the meeting on the proposed developments during the last few months. He has been working with architects, consultancy firms and the council to produce drawings and to find out what developments are possible. The plans will go to public consultation before being submitted. There has been a lot of activity with the council during the past year. The details of the preferred scheme should be available before Christmas, but no formal application will take place this year. SP explained that he is not looking to just develop the land but to re-develop the stadium.

RP asked for more details.

SP answered that there could be small retail establishments, with renting or leasing some buildings. There could be sports clinic and health provision. Also, player accommodation could be on site. There were no plans for office blocks or commercial premises.

SP then explained the Sport England Loans. Sport England have not requested re-imbursement. The National League have regular meetings about the loans and all clubs have a four-year holiday period and are still working to have the loans written off.

RP asked if the National League are trying to convert them to grants.

SP said that the loans are directly with the clubs. He explained the loan system and why they were brought in. He asked for the supporters to be patient.

RP invited SP and SR to the Glovers Trust AGM. SP said that he had been approached in an aggressive manner by two members of the Glovers’ Trust at the Dorking game and he would have to speak to SR before giving a response. MS also witnessed the incident and said it was out of order. SP asked if this had been dealt with by the .

RR asked if there was any more investment in the club.

SP said there is ongoing discussions but for new investors the finances have to look decent, performances on the pitch need to inspire them and the environment needs to be friendly. Protesting is having a negative effect on the club. All supporters are welcome to attend the Alliance meetings.

Discussions then took place between TB and SP regarding the take-over by Simul Sports. TB believed that they had the money and that new investors are not willing to invest because of SP.
SP confirmed that there was a contract for Simul Sports to buy the club but they didn’t sign it. He advised that if the group wanted to buy a football club then there are a few for sale, but they haven’t bought anything.

SP explained that the council deal did not stop the Simul Sports deal. RP said that some people are disenchanted with the club.
SP asked if it matters who owns the club. The important factor is to be competitive. SP will be issuing a statement of future plans. The club needs a long term sustainable future.

RR thanked SP for his update.

The meeting finished at 15:00.

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The Yeovil Town Supporters’ Alliance Group (SAG) has today released a statement to the Gloverscast and other media outlets after a sustained period of rumour and speculation regarding the ownership of the Football Club.

The statement from the YTFC Supporters’ Alliance Group reads as follows:

Given the speculation across social media among supporters in the last 72 hours, we urge those at the table negotiating to offer some certainty and clarity as to the future of Yeovil Town FC.

If Scott Priestnall had the best interests of the football club at his heart as he says, it is imperative that he invests more money into the club, sources the investment he has promised previously or sells the club to the consortium which offers Yeovil Town FC the brightest future.

As a group of united supporters, we believe the time is now for genuine change and only one group at the table offers that hope for the future of Yeovil Town FC.

The Gloverscast welcomes the statement from the Supporters’ Alliance Group and hope for a positive resolution in the near future.