Yeovil Town owner announces he is stepping down as fans rejoice

Fans have reacted with joy after Yeovil Town owner Martin Hellier announced he was stepping down. The Glovers owner issued a statement on the club’s official website on Monday night saying shareholder Stuart Robins would take over as interim chairman while a new owner is found.

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 season. But Yeovil lost £2.8m in that season, with the club’s annual accounts saying that the club is now solely reliant on the owner injecting cash to support itself.

In a statement, Hellier said it had been "a privilege" to serve in the role. But he added due to the pressures placed on myself and my family, he has made the decision to step away.

The statement read: “It has been a privilege to serve as chairman, and I am proud of the significant changes made around the club, changes that I believe will benefit it for years to come. Helping the club regain its place in the National League was a key milestone, and while the journey has had its challenges, real progress has been made. However, due to the pressures placed on myself and my family, I have made the decision to step away from my role.

“Stuart Robins will take on the position of interim chairman while a successor is found, and I hope the club can continue building towards a strong future. In the meantime, I encourage you all to keep backing Mark and the team as we approach the final stretch of the season. The club will make no further comment until a new owner has been appointed. Martin Hellier.”

An earlier statement posted and then deleted over the weekend on social media had read: "I fully intend to sell the club and leave as soon as a suitable buyer is found. It's simply not worth losing the money to be abused and my children abused and so on.”

Following the announcement, Yeovil fans took to social media to rejoice at the news. One post said: “The right outcome - relationship would never recover but without a buyer in place I’m concerned Best everyone can do now is go and buy a ticket for the remaining home games, fill the ground and show any interested parties the club and its fans at its / their best.”

Another added: “Congratulation Yeovil fans.” Another said: “This day was always going to come. Making some of the fans a target of provocative statements never ends well. No club chairman should ever turn on their customers.”

A fourth said: “Good riddance. Congratulations Yeovil fans, you get your club back!!” Another added: “Football without fans is absolutely nothing. Absolutely incredible to see what a collective voice can achieve. It does off course pose many questions for ‘what’s next’ for the club, but all hopefully in good time”

The relationship between Hellier and the fans has been uneasy for some time. A number of supporters, including unofficial podcast Gloverscast, have been banned from Huish Park for comments made on social media.

Hellier, who told fans to 'rejoice' as the 'long winter of discord is over' after completing his takeover has been involved in several spats with fans online, with some combative interactions with supporters on social media. In the past, he has told fans to ‘go f*** yourself’, called them ‘plebs’ and told one supporter he ‘looks like the kinda guy who hangs around outside playgrounds', TalkSport reports.

One fan, Jonathan Hooper, who had been banned, published a letter he received from the club on Friday that informed him of the two-year banning order that has been imposed because of social media comments that 'have caused significant disruption and created an environment that is not conducive to the values and reputation of the Club.'

Hooper's X account - which was specifically referenced by the club - is similar to various fan accounts on the platform. In his bio he notes that he 'mainly posts data analysis on YTFC and the National League'.

Speaking to BBC Radio Five Live, he insisted he had not been abusive. "In a way I expected it because I'd seen other fans getting similar letters before me," he said.

"The whole atmosphere around the club is becoming toxic. It's not a great place to be, but at the same time everything I have done has not been abusive.

"Yes, I have been critical but I haven't been aggressive, I haven't been abusive. It's a bit of a punch in the stomach, let's just say."

The letter to Hooper began: “Following a thorough review of your recent conduct on the social media platform X, we are writing to inform you that, as a result of your negative comments and remarks regarding Yeovil Town Football Club and the Club's Chairman, the decision has been made to impose a banning order on you.

“This order prohibits you from attending any matches, events, or entering the premises associated with the Club, with immediate effect.

“Your comments have caused significant disruption and created an environment that is not conducive to the values and reputation of the Club. As such, you are hereby prohibited from entering the Club's stadium, training facilities, and any other properties associated with Yeovil Town Football Club.

“This ban will remain in place for a period of 2 years from the date of this letter. We ask that you consider this matter seriously. We trust you understand the severity of this issue and the necessity of maintaining a respectful environment at Yeovil Town Football Club.”

The Glovers - whose 16-season stay in the English Football League ended in 2019 - are currently 13th in the National League, after a 1-0 win on Saturday. They are away to Altrincham on Saturday.