SURVIVAL BATTLE IS A WAY OF LIFE
Harry’s support boosts Darren
YEOVIL Town don’t have the resources of the League Two big boys, but manager Darren Way loves a challenge.
It’s just as well. When he took over in December 2015, following the sacking of Paul Sturrock, the Glovers were well and truly in the mire.
Way pulled them out of it to ensure Yeovil’s League status. Last season, he led the Somerset side to 20th place and this time around they were in the same position heading into the weekend.
Some critics will no doubt say the Glovers are standing still, but those in the know reckon Way is doing superbly just to keep their heads above water.
Valuable
It is widely recognised in the game that Yeovil have one of the lowest budgets, if not the lowest, in the EFL and that would make life tough for the most experienced of bosses.
Perhaps even Harry Redknapp, who recently linked up with Yeovil as an advisor and is providing Way with valuable support.
Way said: “It’s nice to have someone around who knows what I’m working with and understands what I’m going through.
“Football management can be a lonely place at times, so it means a lot when someone like that says you are doing a good job with what you’ve got.
“You can get acidic comments on social media, but that’s part and parcel of the job. No-one puts more pressure on me to do a good job than I do myself.
“Harry has helped me over a number of years and he’s been a good support.
“I class him as an elite manager and I would be a fool not to take his advice.”
However long Way remains in charge at Huish Park – and he’s almost due a long-service medal the way chairmen tend to hire and fire – he’s determined to ensure Yeovil remain in the top 92.
“When I first set out as a manager two years ago, I promised I would keep the club in the Football League, which I have done,” he said.
“Football management is all about ups and downs, but you come in every day and strive for success. It can be relentless, but you keep working hard.
“I feel proud of the fact I have done 100 games at (the age of) 37 with probably the lowest budget in the league. It’s a tough job.
“The first year we were competing with Dagenham and York to stay up. Last year with the likes of Notts County, Leyton Orient and Hartlepool.
“This year, we’ve got 13 new players on a lower budget than last year – and the competition has got tougher.
“It’s no coincidence that nine times out of ten the clubs fighting for survival are those with the smallest budgets, but I’m quite comfortable with that. I’ve said to the chairman (John Fry) that I’ll work with what I’ve got.”
Compete
It’s only a few years ago that Yeovil were competing in the Championship, but fortunes dipped alarmingly after that brush with the big time.
And the loss of the emergency loan market a year ago has made it even tougher for them to compete.
“We haven’t got the resources to have a squad of 30 players,” said Way. “We’ve got 21 players, so a bit of luck is involved in that. If you get injuries to two or three key players, you’ve got problems.
“We preferred the loan system the way it was.”
But Way will put that to one side and plough on, determined to give Yeovil a brighter future.
“We have to make sure we’re competitive and stay in the League,” he added. “Some people expect us to finish in the top six, but it’s not realistic.
“It’s slow progress, but I believe the club is moving forward and I’m confident the future will be good. I’m loving every minute of it.”