Yeovil Town Chief Executive Martyn Starnes spoke to BBC Somerset presenter Ben McGrail on the eve of the 2012-13 season on Friday 17th August 2012.
BM: Let's be honest here, you're not one of the favourites to get promoted in League One. So what would you say to people listening, who you want to go and support your team to watch the Coventry game tomorrow? What's in it for them?
MS: Well, I think it's true to say that in the last few seasons we've always been favourites to go down. But we've defied the bookies now every year, for the last seven years, I think, in League One. We aim to do so in this season, and to go one better and be competing at the upper end of the table. Gary Johnson has put together what we believe is a very strong and exciting squad. We hope to be challenging in the top half of the table for potential play-off positions.
BM: Those gate numbers are important to you aren't they?
MS: Of course they are - they're very very important. We've got a big game tomorrow against Coventry City. We're expecting a very good crowd. Hopefully the weather will be good and encourage people to come down and watch. On Tuesday night we had a very entertaining game against Colchester, which we won 3-0, and I'm hoping that tomorrow people will come out and have a look at the new team, and get behind the Glovers and set the scene for the season.
BM: From the business point of view, as the Chief Executive, at the end of the season if you don't see those gate numbers go up, will you see that as a bit of a failure?
MS: Not really, as I think we have to be mindful that there's a very difficult economic situation out there. People can only afford to do what they can afford to do. We'll be disappointed if we can't get the gates up and the gate receipts up, because we need the additional income to compete successfully at this level. But we do recognise the reality that's out there in the economy at the moment.
BM: How do you think the side will get on this year then?
MS: I think we will do very well. I think we have got some extremely good players. We've got a great balance of abilities, of age and experience within the team. There are players with a lot of flair as well, so we're in for an exciting season. Of course, with the draw for the next round of the Capital One Cup, we've got West Brom, and it would be nice to pit our wits against a Premier League side, and in a competitive game.
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Martyn Starnes Speaks To The BBC On The Eve Of The 2012-13 Season
