Latest news with #YeovilTown
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Robins targeting EFL return after Yeovil takeover
Yeovil Town executive chairman Stuart Robins hopes a change of ownership can propel the club back into the English Football League (EFL), but has warned it will take Prabhu Srinivasan completed a takeover of the club from the Hellier Trading Group this week, two months after it was put up for who has been interim chairman during the takeover, will work alongside Srinivasan and has big plans for the future. "I'm relieved and excited," he told BBC Radio Somerset. "We can get rid of all the uncertainty."Prabhu saw there was a good opportunity to make a difference. We've gone through difficult times since we were in the Championship; we are back on the way up and he can be part of that."We've been working behind the scenes to ensure a sensible budget. It is really important to build sensibly; we are not going to be Wrexham."We will be able to bring calm and stability. It has been difficult for the fans, the team, the people who work here. "We've got a big responsibility to make sure that stability runs right throughout the club. I firmly believe we should be a League One or League Two club - that is the vision."The Glovers have fallen from the Championship into non-league over the last decade, finishing 18th in the National League last said it was important the new owners had the right ideals for Yeovil both as a club and a town."I've had so many conversations with different suitors. What was exciting about Prabhu was that it was about the community, not just the football club," he said."Because this is is so close to my heart, it was important for me as a Yeovil boy to know it wasn't just about someone coming in just to be part of a famous football club. "It was somebody who wanted to build the club as part of the community and make it more inclusive for everyone."
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Entrepreneur Srinivasan completes Yeovil takeover
Entrepreneur Prabhu Srinivasan has completed the takeover of National League club Yeovil Town from former owner Martin company, Inflection Holdings, have acquired all shares previously held by the Hellier Trading Group, with Srinivasan becoming owner and stepped down as chairman at the end of March and confirmed his intention to sell the Glovers. "Investing in Yeovil Town Football Club is a moment of immense pride for us," Srinivasan said."This club's rich history and potential inspired us, and we are committed to being a responsible steward as we embark on an exciting new journey together. We are focused on making a positive impact on players, fans, employees and the entire community."Srinivasan, who lives in Dubai, is said to have 30 years of experience in banking, retail, technology, travel, real estate, e-waste and wellness.A club statement said he has also "built one of the largest multi-sports youth platforms in India and the Middle East".Stuart Robins, who was made interim chairman after Hellier stepped down, has become executive chairman and will work alongside Srinivasan. The purchase marks the second takeover at Yeovil in the past three years, and ends a successful but stormy chapter at Huish Park under the ownership of Hellier, who took over in May a long-time Yeovil fan and previous club sponsor through his firm, took over the Glovers during another turbulent period, following a failed takeover attempt by the SU Glovers and the club's relegation from the National club won promotion from National League South in 2024, although recently published accounts show the club made a loss of almost £2.8m in the process, and Mark Cooper's men finished 18th in the fifth tier this season, four points above the relegation Hellier's relationship with sections of the fanbase became hostile after he banned some supporters from the ground for comments made on social media. This led to a backlash directed at Hellier, who responded with abusive posts of his own. Robins said he was "confident" that Yeovil is in "great hands" under Srinivasan, who was at Huish Park last month to see their 2-1 defeat by Sutton United."I'm excited to commit to the long-term vision we have co-created, centred on developing and growing the club for our wonderful supporters," he added.
South China Morning Post
16-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Footballer in England ‘would love to play for Hong Kong', open to transfer
Former Watford and Derby County talent Sonny Blu Lo-Everton said he would 'love to play for Hong Kong', and the attacking midfielder is open to signing for a local club. The 22-year-old, whose maternal grandfather is from Hong Kong, is out of contract with Yeovil Town, where he has played for two seasons since 2023. In February, he spent two weeks on trial with Zhejiang, when the Chinese Super League club were in Dubai for a pre-season camp. 'If a club in Hong Kong wanted me, it'd be an option, for sure,' said Lo-Everton, who has a Scottish grandmother and represented the country's age-group teams. 'I loved playing against really good opposition, and with good players all around me.' Lo-Everton has not heard from the Football Association of Hong Kong, China, but said: 'I would love to play for Hong Kong, definitely. It would be a big decision to give up my UK passport, but it could be a great opportunity.' Named after a sunny blue sky, the young Lo-Everton would spend hours kicking a ball in the park with his father, Johnnie Everton, who was an apprentice with Crystal Palace. Sonny Lo-Everton celebrates scoring against Jude Bellingham's Birmingham City in 2018. Photo: Handout The practice paid off when Sonny Blu signed for Watford, aged nine. In the 2018-19 FA Youth Cup, Lo-Everton scored the only goal against Jude Bellingham's Birmingham City, en route to a narrow semi-final loss at Liverpool.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hellier to keep investing in Yeovil despite selling
Yeovil Town owner Martin Hellier will continue investing in the National League club until a new buyer is found, says interim chairman Stuart Robins. Hellier stepped down as chairman on Monday and confirmed plans to sell the Glovers citing abuse he had suffered online from fans. Robins has taken on the role while a new owner is found. Businessman Hellier took over Yeovil in June 2023 but has been involved in a hostile relationship with sections of the fanbase for some time, including exchanging abuse of his own via social media and issuing banning orders from games. "We're being supported by the Hellier Group and I've been given some good assurances that that will continue," Robins told BBC Radio Somerset. Yeovil Town owner Hellier steps down as chairman Yeovil Town's 'freefall' back to regional football Hellier, a long-time Yeovil fan and previous club sponsor through his firm, took over the Glovers during another turbulent period two years ago, following a failed takeover attempt by the SU Glovers and their relegation from the National League. The club won promotion from National League South at the end of last season and are 14th in the fifth tier. Accounts released for the 2023-24 season show that debts total £2.8m and Robins said it was now "absolutely critical" that new investment was brought in. "I don't think we're any different from a lot of clubs at this level and indeed above," Robins said. "It's not great reading but my major task now is to bring in new investment and that will hopefully bring bigger and even better times to Huish Park and Yeovil Town." Robins said the past weeks had been "challenging" and that it had "gotten very, very difficult" between Hellier and the fans. "We're in a position now where we can hopefully move forward and get the Park packed again and the supporters enjoying good days out again," he said. Robins added he was looking into the banning orders issued by Hellier - the fans behind Gloverscast, an unofficial club podcast, are among those who had been sent letters telling them to stay away from matches. "It's right at the top of the agenda and we will be addressing that very soon," Robins said. "I'm a supporter, I've been through it myself as a supporter and I want everyone to be really proud of being part of the club that I and everybody loves, so that's a really high priority as well"
BBC News
31-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Yeovil Town owner plans to sell club after 'abuse'
Yeovil Town owner Martin Hellier plans to sell the club after saying he has suffered online abuse from some fans. The businessman has been in charge at Huish Park for almost two years and funded his side's promotion back to the National League last Glovers - whose 16-season stay in the English Football League ended in 2019 - are currently 13th in the fifth tier. "I fully intend to sell the club and leave as soon as a suitable buyer is found," Hellier said in a statement on social media. "It's simply not worth losing the money to be abused and my children abused and so on."I would ask in the meantime that you stop the endless online harassment and abuse. You've done enough, it's worked."A fan, who was banned for two years by the club last week for criticism of Hellier, published the letter he received from the club online. This led to further criticism of Hellier, who took control from former owner Scott Priestnall in May Hellier's leadership, the Glovers cruised to the National League South title last season, although recently published accounts show the club made a loss of almost £2.8m in the process. "My investment provided the club with the funds needed to get through and provided you with football and promotion to the NL (National League) but has given me nothing but abuse and minus £4m personal deficit," Hellier added."So yes, I do not intend to be at YTFC next season. Your abuse has succeeded. Now leave me alone until the end of the season."
