A Festive Yeovil Round Up

Two games, a loan extension and a couple of other bits to bring us up to date.

On Christmas Eve Yeovil confirmed that Josh Sheehan had extended his loan spell with the club and the 20 year old had now penned a further month’s extension to his time at Huish Park.

Darren Way was quoted briefly as saying.

‘We are all really pleased to have secured the services of Josh again. On the little run we have been on he has started every game. We hope that he keeps up the level of performances that we have seen from him recently to make sure he continues to challenge for a first team place.’

That then takes us to the Boxing Day loss to Plymouth Argyle, where we suffered a one nil defeat to the League Two leaders.

Speaking to the Western Morning News it was very much a case of the job goes on for Way as he said his focus was now on the next match and points to avoid relegation as dwelling on that one wouldn’t help anybody.

‘We knew it wasn`t going to be easy. It is not an easy place to come to, with them top of the league and with the momentum. There were times when I felt we were on top, but you don`t come here thinking you won`t have to sustain pressure. We tried to hit them on the counter. There were two or three times we could have been clean in and given the centre-backs something to think about. This is my first time in adversity. I was disappointed with the goal, but these things happen and we move on.’

He also added.

‘This objective isn`t going to be achieved straight away. No chance. Foundations need to be built and I do feel there is enough about us to stay in the league. That is what it is about. Anything else is irrelevant to me. The players have given me everything and the club everything. They need a bit of help in January, which will happen. I have always tried to change things tactically to win it. It is not for a lack of knowledge, but there just seems to be this cloud over us. But we will move on, and just stick with us.’

Skipper Darren Ward also called on the board to make a sharp decision on Way’s future, as they back him for the job but they need clarity on their own futures as well.

‘The players need to know. I would like to know where I stand and then you can build. We can appreciate the situation the club are in, and the chairman and directors have a big decision to make that has to be right. It has been a challenge for everyone. Darren has dealt with it and I have been very impressed.’

As for his own future, speaking after the Plymouth game he added.

‘My contract runs out in nine days. I don`t know what`s happening, but I have been given the armband and yet I`m 150 miles away from home.’

Bank Holiday Monday then saw a very creditable draw against promotion hopefuls Oxford United and a clean sheet – and obviously Way was overjoyed with the efforts on the day.

‘I think every game I’ve been involved in as a manager has been close, and I thank the players for that. They put pride and passion into wearing that shirt, and they definitely done that today. They worked their socks off against what is the best side in the league by a million miles. The squad they have at their disposal, and fair play to him (Michael Appleton) he’s got them playing really well.’

Way was also thankful once again for the support of the fans, adding.

‘I wanted the second home win since I’ve been here, but with the run-in we had you had to be realistic; it felt okay, it felt good. If you sat at home or listened to the radio, you don’t really get a feeling of what the players are giving every week. But the supporters here could, and I thank them for turning up every week and supporting the football club. It’s about this football club staying in the league and we’ve all got a big part in that.’

Chairman John Fry has confirmed that a decision on the permanent manager position will be made ahead of the opening of the January transfer window, Way also said he didn’t yet know if it was his.

He was however again thankful for the efforts of the squad and the words of skipper Darren Ward who backed him for the job and called on the board to act.

‘He knows what it feels like to be in a winning environment, he wants to create that. He’s been a great help; he’s been a great addition and has been very supportive of me taking over this football club. But he’s got to make commitments, which is understandable in his situation, the same as Francois Zoko. We wouldn’t be judged to stay up on the run we’ve been in, this is going right to the end of the season. I think there’s enough in that squad and what I’ve brought to the football club to help us stay in the league.’