Mark Cooper speaks for the first time since being appointed as the new Yeovil Town manager, and he had quite a lot of work to do already.
The 53-year-old has previously managed as many as 10 clubs across the EFL and National League, leading Swindon Town to the League One playoff final in 2015.
He also oversaw Forest Green Rovers’ promotion to the EFL in 2017. And he was most recently the boss at Barrow, but left by mutual consent in March this year whilst he was serving an eight-match ban for comments he made to a female assistant referee.
🎙 We sat down with Mark Cooper for his first interview as #YTFC manager. pic.twitter.com/ZuLRD63wln
— Yeovil Town F.C. (@YTFC) October 28, 2022
CLUB STATEMENT:
Yeovil Town are delighted to announce that Mark Cooper has been appointed as First Team Manager.
Signing a two-and-a-half-year deal, Cooper arrives with a wealth of experience and promotion pedigree in management, both within the Football League & National League.
After a successful playing career with the likes of Birmingham City, Exeter City and Fulham, Cooper began his management career with Tamworth in 2004 whilst they competed in the National League (then Conference National). His second management role was with Kettering Town, where he tasted promotion for the first time, as his side won the Conference North title by 17 points.
Following a short spell with Peterborough United in the Championship, Cooper joined Darlington where he won the 2010/11 FA Trophy.
In July 2013, Cooper became Swindon Town manager. In his first season at the helm, he finished in 8th place and a year later led the Robins to the League One play-off final.
Most notably, Cooper spent five years at Forest Green Rovers, leading the Gloucestershire outfit to the Football League for the first time in their history. In total, he won 101 games during his stint with the Club.
After spending last season with Barrow AFC in League Two, Cooper now arrives in Somerset to take the reins at Huish Park.
Speaking after his arrival was confirmed, Cooper said; “It’s good to be here. I already know a few of the players and staff so I’m excited and really looking forward to it.
“If you look historically, this can be a big club. We need to unite; the players, the supporters. Everybody needs to come together and that can play such a big part.”
Chairman Scott Priestnall added; “I’m delighted to welcome Mark to the Club, he is a manager I have admired for a long time.
“Mark has the promotion credentials we are looking for, with a strong background at this level and above.
“I’m pleased to get the deal done swiftly so Mark can get straight to work.”
Mark Cooper stressed the importance of unifying the supporters and the players after he was unveiled as Yeovil Town’s manager.
Speaking exclusively to the Yeovil Town media team for the first time, the new boss was keen to unify everybody associated with the Club.
“You can’t have a successful club if the players and supporters are apart, especially if you want to win things,” said Cooper. “Everyone has to be on board.
“We can’t play well all the time, but if the supporters can see there’s a plan and the players are giving everything, then you can get that unity.
“I think you’ve seen recently, that every time they misplace a pass, they get stick, it effects their performances so we need to make sure we’re together.”
Having managed at the level before, winning promotion with Forest Green Rovers in 2017, Cooper arrives ready for the task at hand.
“I think it’s important that when you’re coming in, you know the level and you know the players. I think at the moment it’s just about simplifying things for the players and trying to give them a platform to regain some confidence.
“You do that by getting results, but I do think we need to simplify it. We need to get the fans on board with some good performances, on the front foot. Putting a smile on peoples faces is what’s needed at the minute.”
This weekend, Cooper’s Glovers side travel to Maidstone United. The boss will be putting his faith in existing staff members Chris Todd & Marcus Stewart to help guide the side through the managerial transition.
“As it’s so close to the weekend, it’s important I trust the staff that are here; Chris Todd, Marcus Stewart.
They’ve got a good handle on what’s needed, I’ll be relying on them to help pick the right team on Saturday.
“Obviously I’ll have an input, but I’ll use their judgement as we won’t get too much time on the training pitch.”
This is what social media users said as Mark Cooper speaks for the first time since being appointed as the new Yeovil manager…
@SBAHB_YTFC: Predictable that we hear that he took FGR up into the football league. And not about how he mocked Justin Edinburgh’s death or is still subject to a touchline ban for abusing an official. Suspect whatever happens now it won’t be boring #PriestnallOut
@yeovilpostie: Good to see Yeovil fans looking positive as normal he going to have a hard enough job with this chairman let’s get right behind him
@voodoobluesman:
“We need to unite; the players, the supporters”
Good luck on that one!
@philpark18: So predictable. Jed’s mate 🙈 #PriestnallOut
@Downing88: Bit early in the season to announce relegation 🤣 You’ve had a shocker here
@sfc_owen5: Decent appointment. Football is going to have to improve if they actually think we can stay in this league
@onlycraigo: Very good appointment!
@DanAuton2590: So the guy who accused Ross Embleton of being an imposter has found himself in the Conference before Ross, chin up, Mark 😂😂😂 #lofc
@michaeledowning: Oh Dear 🤦♂️
@Bluebirds20201: Didn’t think I’d see him get another job after his performance at Barrow. Very quickly lost the team, captain, fans and board.
@wattsy_uk: Good appointment to get us up the league. Only so far we can go under Scott’s ownership though. #priestnallout
@wiltufc: Hahahahahahahahaha what a stinker
@cricketcelt: The £5 game will probably have a slightly spicier atmosphere than the club were planning now. 😅
@MikeBen55437907: Give him a chance ffs, why all the negative comments. Can’t be any worse than Hargreaves’s!! At least he is an actual manager. Priestnall is the problem not him. Welcome mark 👍
@Dlnorton150879: Sorry to see this has happened to your club 😢
@Establised1890: So the racists have signed a sexist, this should end well 👍🏻
@leemck83: Will be getting a warm welcome at ML on the 19th 🙄
@CleaveO: Experienced manager both at this level and in EFL with contacts is just what we need. As usual some of our fans will look at the negatives. Need to get behind the new man and team starting tomorrow at Maidstone. #YTFC
@andy_craig93: Anyone joining us with success at NL level and in our current predicament is a massive yes from me. Mark Cooper’s Gloves 🟢⚪️
@ytfctxm: people weren’t happy about sarll and look what happened #ytfc
@SWS1948: Even more of a reason to see them get relegated
@exetercity1904: Thankfully we aren’t run in this way… Imagine having this man in charge of your team. How Yeovil have fallen 😫 #ECFC
@AndrewFoot84: On paper, ticks a lot of the boxes many of us felt we were lacking in a manager when Hargreaves was in charge. Yes he has his faults but of course he does, he’s taking over a team in the NL relegation zone. Let’s hope he can help turn things around on the pitch. #ytfc
@AlexBrianWhite: As far as I can tell, Cooper still has the last two games of an eight game touchline ban to serve for sexist comments to a female official #ytfc
@JacobHarry_17: I don’t think this is as bad as what Yeovil fans are making it out. Owner needs binning off ASAP however I think this is 10x better then Hargreaves #YTFC
@jamesking1572: Looks like Yeovil have decided to confine themselves to a life of non-league football
Much better than Hargreaves.. BUT NOTHING will change until “he” is gone. pic.twitter.com/u4BYUuItJm
— Ryan📵 (@ChappsRyan2000) October 28, 2022

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