A TUMULTUOUS reign at Yeovil Town is coming to an end after owner and chairman Martin Hellier announced he is stepping down and selling the club.
Fans reacted positively when the club posted the eagerly anticipated picture of a corner flag linking to the statement on Monday (March 31) – a move often used by football club social media admins, typically to announce the sacking of a manager.
But it wasn’t manager Mark Cooper that was up for the chop, but rather the controversial owner Martin Hellier, who had been recently accused of banning fans for posting “negative comments” on social media.
A letter which circled social media detailed the club’s “thorough investigation” into fans’ X accounts, which had resulted in two-year bans being dished out to those that had posted “negative remarks” about the club and its chairman.
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However, the supporter who received the letter – X user Jonathan Hooper – said he is unsure what posts specifically sparked the ban, going as far as to say he had even reached out to other fans to ask them not to give the then club director and Martin’s son Jack Hellier abuse.
The ‘abuse’ proved so severe that Hellier decided to step away from the club – a move that some fans have long awaited.
In a statement, Hellier said it had been a privilege to serve as chairman and that he believes the changes he brought will benefit the club for years to come.
Martin Hellier has been a controversial figure at the club Picture: Yeovil Town FC/PPA
“However, due to the pressures placed on myself and my family, I have made the decision to step away from my role,” he said.
“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.”
Hellier initially oversaw a very successful time in the club’s history.
Taking on the challenge at Huish Park back in 2023, Hellier made it clear his job was to stabilise the club.
In the short term, this became a reality as the club that had just been relegated to the National League South in 2023 managed to secure an immediate return to the National League.
But the club has endured a fractured relationship with its fans since the high of promotion, with many fans wanting stronger investment despite reports that Hellier put £4 million into the club over his tenure.
Accounts released by the club last Friday show that Yeovil posted losses of £2.8 million last season – a significant chunk of change to lose for non-league teams.
When performances faltered for the club that had been playing in the Championship just 10 years ago, fans took to social media to express their concern – something Hellier took personally.
Stuart Robbins sitting down with Jack Killah from the BBC to speak about his first days as interim chairman Picture: Yeovil Town FC
Hellier was often in the centre of a storm, as screenshots floating around social media show he would often send expletive-filled late-night replies to fans criticising him and the club.
But it was the banning order issued to select fans that was the final straw that broke the camel’s back, as many popular football social media accounts finally caught wind of the controversial goings-on at the Somerset club.
In a now-deleted Facebook post, Hellier announced he was going to sell the club just hours before Yeovil was set to kick off against AFC Flyde on Saturday (March 29), stating the abuse had forced him out of the club.
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He said: “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.
“I would ask in the meantime that you stop the endless online harassment and abuse. You’ve done enough, it’s worked.
“My investment provided the club with the funds needed to get through and provided you with football and promotion to the National League, but has given me nothing but abuse and minus £4m personal deficit.
“So yes, I do not intend to be at YTFC next season. Your abuse has succeeded. Now leave me alone until the end of the season.”
The club’s unofficial podcast Gloverscast, which has often been in the firing line by Hellier, has also been banned from Huish Park.
The Glovers Trust has also announced it is back, saying the last seven days are a “stark reminder that without supporters at the heart of the club, a much-loved, more than a century old community asset will always be vulnerable.”
Yeovil is currently sitting in 14th place in the National League.
I don’t like football. The abuse Martin Hillier and his family received was disgusting. Yeovil fans need to be ashamed. Not a very nice way to treat someone who put money into this rubbish football team and to drive a family out of Yeovil. Shame on You.