Glovers’ new boss excited by challenge
Chris Hargreaves sees developing young talent as crucial to club’s future success
CHRIS Hargreaves has been confirmed as Yeovil Town’s new manager on a two-year contract, ending the National League club’s search for a long-term replacement for Darren Sarll.
Hargreaves has been the successful applicant following a lengthy process in the wake of Sarll’s departure and the eight-game interim spell of Charlie Lee, who left Huish Park over the weekend.
It is Hargreaves’ first senior management role since leaving Torquay United in 2015, and only the second in his career, having spent the last six years working in various youth coaching positions at Bristol Rovers.
“It feels fantastic to be here. I’m delighted to be at such a brilliant football club,” the 50-year-old told club website ytfc.net. “Yeovil Town has an immense fan base and a great history, I’m really looking forward to the challenge.”
Sarll left the Glovers in March to take over at Woking and accept a guaranteed longer-term contract.
Hargreaves, inset, will now be tasked with reshaping the squad with the bulk of the players that have taken them to 12th in the National League now out of contract.
In an interview with ytfc.net, he said: “I’ve either in person, or on my laptop watched the last 10 to 12 games, so I’ve got a fair idea (of the players). I’ve met all of them either individually for a chat or over the phone.”
He added: “I hope we can work together with them and improve some of the younger players because that’s what my background has been, in player development.”
On his time with Bristol Rovers, he reflected: “I saw all the types of players you work with, whether that’s the U23s, the first team as assistant manager or younger as the academy manager. The plan at clubs has to be sustainable, to try and bring up players or improve players that you get in.*
“Player development is a big thing, it’s something I really enjoy, but at the end of the day it has to be the right character that comes through.”
After a playing career with Oxford United, Plymouth Argyle, Northampton Town and Torquay, amongst others, Hargreaves took up a coaching role with Exeter City before joining Bournemouth in 2011.
He took the manager’s job at Plainmoor in 2014 but left 17 months later, taking a job at Bristol Rovers in 2016 where he has served as chief scout, development squad manager, assistant first-team manager and academy chief. He left Rovers in February to find a senior management role and also worked as a pundit on BT Sport’s National League coverage. ■ Defender Luke Wilkinson yesterday confirmed he will depart Huish Park following the expiry of his contract.