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Mass exodus at Taunton Town with players saying they’ve been ‘consistently lied to’

There’s been a mass exodus at Taunton Town with players saying they’ve been ‘consistently lied to’ as the club release a statement.

A growing list of players have departed in the last two weeks with more imminent according to fans as they summarise what’s led to this.

@AlexReddick on Twitter writes that seven players have left Taunton in the past two weeks, while Non LeagueMatters user Swjoduk goes further into detail.

User ‘Swjoduk’ posts: “Players leaving left right and centre, 2 yesterday another 2 or 3 imminent, budget cut has meant it currently stands at 5 left in recent weeks. We may struggle to field a side Saturday. 2 have come back from loans and another has been signed but even if one doesn’t leave today he is suspended for Saturday and another broke their hand Boxing Day.

“Lots of talk of financial issues, mainly brought on by the recent rain and our pitch that doesn’t drain well as it is built of an old tip with a thick clay capping. We are 5 or 6 games behind some clubs and only around 3 league home games in 3 months or longer. Because the club house doesn’t opened other than matchdays and doesn’t function the only income we have is matchday revenue plus sponsorship, car park rental fees etc

“There is even some talk of applying for voluntary relegation which would mean a two division drop and back to the Southern Div 1 South!”

STATEMENT FROM CHAIRMAN:

The following statement has been provided by Club Chairman Kevin Sturmey:

“I appreciate supporters are concerned about the recent departure of several players for various reasons but this needs to be put in the context of what position the club is currently in. It has been well documented that the club is going through a tough time, but any business would struggle with 10% income and 100% expenditure for the months of October, November and December. Not receiving a significant amount of sponsorship money which we had built in to our cashflow has also not helped. However, the players’ wages are all paid up to date but again like most football clubs it is survival month to month as “cash flow is king” in any business but it looks much more promising with 13 home National League games still to play and a mouth-watering local derby at home against Bridgwater in the Somerset Cup.

Everything has been thrown at us this year – floods, postponements, no cup money and not all our own fault e.g. Torquay postponed as we had to go to Welling for an FA Trophy tie etc. But I am positive about the future as long as there is honesty, trust and a never say die attitude. If this happens, we can achieve our short term goal which is retaining our NLS status and once achieved we can properly plan for the future. My job is now to build a Board with people that can bring in new Partners, Sponsors and contacts who are out there which isn’t currently happening, and this will happen very soon. I have many ideas but need people around me with the same appetite for hard work, a will to win and knowledge of sport and especially football which is not a normal business and never will be. However, after 13 ½ years as Chairman and 12 as CEO I will never give up; we are at “professional football” level, but we are still very much part time with the club still run 95% by volunteers. This will need to change, and money needs to be invested off the pitch, not just on it to consolidate and then have a real go for the next level. I have not sacrificed 14 ½ years of my life helping the club progress and been part of a special chapter in Taunton Town’s history to give up now. Every time I have had a setback in my life, I get back up as it galvanizes me to improve, and hard work will always come before success. We all have to commit more and work harder now (and smarter) and in sport my mantra is very simple, you are only as good as your last performance!

One thing in football is there will always be personnel changes and that will always be frustrating as all fans have their favourites, but squads always have to evolve and a freshen up can sometimes give the impetus needed, with some new players now lined up to join. The National League is unforgiving, but we have a much better idea of what the template looks like at this level. At present for the level of budget we are underachieving, having fallen from 1st to 19th in the table with the same squad. Crowds are not where they need to be and of course as we know, we have the added complication of full time teams in our League who can offer full time contracts. We can’t at present, and we have always said while we don’t want to lose any player we will not stand in their way if a deal is right for all parties.

We are only 16 months into our National League journey and I’m sure we all agree we want it to continue. I will keep pushing boundaries to achieve that with the right people.”

PLAYERS’ STATEMENT:

“On behalf of all players of Taunton Town we thought it is best to put together a statement of our own to clear up some issues that have been misconstrued.

“We have been consistently lied to over an extended period of time, with fundamental failures at the very top of the club leading to a situation where the club is unsustainable and the group of players has had to be broken apart. The club has not been run correctly as a business, leading to the situation we find ourselves in today. cash flow has not been budgeted correctly, with the club’s expenditure being way larger than income for a long time, and this has not solely been caused by games being postponed, but instead complete mismanagement to the highest level.

“This whole situation has all originated from broken promises and a lack of trust in the running of the football club.

“To blame on-pitch performances in a club statement is quite frankly barbaric. I’m sure you can appreciate that playing a game of football.”

This is how fans reacted amid a mass exodus at Taunton Town with players saying they’ve been ‘consistently lied to’…

@LeeHayesSW: Nice one Lloyd, fans are behind you and the players first and foremost

@GarethTanner: As a Yeovil fan I do wish you and your players and your fans all the best ,our club has been there was very close to being wound up last season, hope it all works out!

@villa_pogue: I’m a Truro City fan & take no pleasure in this. I hope the club can sort itself out. South West Non league ⚽️ needs a strong @TauntonTownFC

@swjoduk: So what are the broken promises, is it the non payment of expenses, bonuses? Chairman has said players wages all paid to date

@SkinnerAdam: Shambles FC

@IDP36884389: Disgraceful. Who on earth do this group of players think they are? You’re not bigger, or more important than this club. Embarrassing.

@MCooper26: They’ve need been paid for 2 months they have every right to moan 👍🏼

@Football_Paul1: Love the honesty Lloyd it’s about time some straightened this club out and spoke the truth, respect.

@MikeH88: Watching us play Taunton off the pitch was enjoyable. But it brings me zero joy to see a community club torn apart and mismanaged. #YTFC

@TrevB58: Timely reminder to non league clubs not to get carried away chasing rainbows. There’s an awful lot of very silly money being punted around Kent in particular at the moment.

@Ryan01020304061: Another non league club miss managing finances. Unless you’ve a chairman with deep pockets or a funder the wages players are on nowadays is completely unsustainable. Clubs only have themselves to blame.

@DrabbleMatt: Admire a group of players standing up for themselves and I’m sure their grievances are very valid but I did chuckle at the use of the adjective “barbaric” in this.

@Gloversgirl: You don’t wish this on anyone, especially a club in the same county.

@miikkkeeee186: Too many clubs in non league not being ran sustainably. If players want to earn more money elsewhere then clubs need to let them crack on. Clubs longterm future over the immediate future every single time.

@tryan255: Got to say, Taunton are a nice group of people (and i don’t wish to laugh at them as much as how mental their owner is*) Very hospitable away day despite a few problems in the past. Have a lot of time for their Players doing this, especially after being blamed. Would want our squad to do the same if we were in a similar position. Wonder where Rob Dray lies in all this too, very good manager to be fair.

@Dafydd_Nich: Not looking good at Taunton

@itzA8M: Please don’t go bust I wanna go Taunton away

@AlexReddick: This just shows what an absolute mess @TauntonTownFC currently is ☹️

@Trasky86: Deary me! Seems like it’s all abit of a mess currently! Hope things get sorted soon @TauntonTownFC

@Weather40297744: Wow what a mess

@Titansreach7791: Someone get the popcorn the gloves are off…. Madness

@DanWilcox11: This looks messy 😪🤯

@moorsy11: Wow Taunton are in trouble! Have they actually got any players left

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