Pressure mounts on Skivo

Tough fixtures in lead up to Christmas

WHAT a wonderful story it could have been. Dynamic, lion hearted, loyal player retires and takes on manager’s role and catapult’s his club to success - a real Roy of the Rovers tale!

Unfortunately it doesn’t appear that will be happening at Huish!

When Russell Slade was sacked in February last year, Terry Skiverton was promoted to player-manager. It was hoped that his on the field never-say-die attitude would lift the team at the time. Already in a precarious position, Skiverton could not improve the situation and the club just avoided relegation back to Division Two.

His supporters will say that his hands were tied as he had to work with the squad he inherited, and although he did bring in some new players, to a point that is true.

Last season despite bringing in several loan players, including England U21 internationals Steven Caulker and Alex McCarthy and later on Gavin Williams, they once again struggled and just avoided relegation.

This season they sit second from bottom having just been beaten at home by fellow strugglers Dagenham & Redbridge who leapfrogged them, despite playing a midfield of on-loan Welsh internationals.

Having missed four gilt-edged chances in the first 13 minutes, Yeovil conceded to the Daggers first effort on goal from a couple of minutes later. For the rest of the half Yeovil struggled, but did equalise on in first-half added time through a well taken Andy Williams goal.

It took the Glovers a few minutes after the break to get the impetus back but then they peppered the visitor’s goal and created a hatful of chances to have won the game. Unfortunately apart from a Paul Huntingdon header cleared off the line it was a chapter of bad finishing or bad luck, and as with the first-half the Daggers struck on the break with Nathan Jones and John Sullivan badly at fault as Medy Elito found acres of space on the right with Jones nowhere to be seen before driving a shot across Sullivan that appeared to go right through the keepers

defences.

Ultimately they scored again as Yeovil went looking for an equaliser.

I have written in support of chairman John Fry in his quest to ensure the club stays out of debt, and whilst that is commendable it would appear it is backfiring on him both on and off the field.

Skiverton and his assistant Jones were the cheap option, both were still playing when promoted to the management job. However their total lack of experience is now shining through.

Some will argue; and we hear it said by pundits of many football teams, usually in respect of player’s conduct on the field; that there is nothing the manager can do once the player’s cross that white line, and that to a point is true.

However if you consider the quality of some of the players that Skivo has managed, why are they not doing it on the field? They didn’t become internationals because they didn’t have skill or vision, so maybe it is down to the manager’s tactics and style of play.

In the previous home match against Swindon, Skiverton started with just one striker, which suggests a defensive attitude. Is that the right tactics against fellow struggler’s particularly at home?

On Saturday he left arguably their most influential player, Gavin Williams, on the bench for over an hour. He is said to be struggling with an ankle injury and maybe would not have lasted the whole match, but don’t you start with your strongest team and them if successful sub him later when the game is won?

The manager persists in playing his assistant at left back when Nathan Smith, who has been outstanding in several matches this season, sits on the bench until five minutes from the end when they are 3-1 down and Jones has already gifted the opposition a goal.

Saturday’s gate was the lowest I can remember since the club were promoted to the Football League. I know the official attendance suggests over 3,500 watched, but all the season ticket holders are counted regardless of whether they attend, and it looked really sparse looking around the ground.

The club cannot ignore falling attendances which are inevitably linked to the club’s success on the field.

How much longer can the directors allow the club’s fortunes to drop? With difficult games against Charlton, Bournemouth and Peterborough coming up the future looks bleak, and by Christmas it will be too late to recover.

Skiverton has built a backroom staff around him that include a number of his friends and acquaintances and perhaps that is the problem.

Unfortunately, I think it is time for Mr Fry to act. Whilst Skivo has been a great servant to the club and I am sure has done his best, it is time for a change, and not just the manager.

New striker joins

YEOVIL Town have bolstered their attacking options by signing 19-year-old striker Adam Phillip on loan from Premiership side Chelsea.

Adam, who has represented England at under-17 level, arrives at Huish Park on a month's loan from Stamford Bridge.

He was spotted playing Sunday park football for Sutton by Chelsea who signed him for the academy's under-16 side. He proved a regular scorer at that level and the one above.

Although he suffered two serious injuries in recent seasons, he is back in Chelsea's reserve side and has scored two goals in four appearances this season; in Chelsea's 3-1 win over Liverpool and their 3-2 victory against Newcastle United.

The Blues' run to the 2008 FA Youth Cup Final saw Adam come off the bench three times and score three goals and he announced his comeback last season with a hat-trick in a 5-2 win over Portsmouth Reserves.

Hutchings exits Huish

FORMER Tottenham Hotspur defender Danny Hutchings has left Huish Park.

The 21-year-old had his contract cancelled by mutual consent after making 18 appearances with the Glovers since joining in 2009.

Caulker makes debut

STEVEN Caulker made his England U21 debut in their friendly against Germany in Wiesbaden on Tuesday night.

Caulker, now on loan at Bristol City, was outstanding last season when he was on loan at Huish Park and won all the end of season trophies.

A substitute, he replaced Martin Kelly with 12 minutes left in a match England lost 2-0.

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