SPIRIT WORTHY OF CHAMPIONS

Glovers skipper is rewarded for loyalty

- Jon Couch

THEY say loyalty pays - Matt Worthington is living proof of that.

A fourth relegation in ten years - from the Championship to National League South - had sunk his Yeovil Town side to a whole new low with "a period of great instability" throwing the club's mere existence into doubt.

The future of manager Mark Cooper was uncertain too, hinging on a takeover by local businessman Martin Hellier, which was dragging its heels deep into the summer months.

It's fair to say Huish Park was not the ideal place to be.

"It was a very difficult period for all of us," Worthington, 26, recalls. "Last year was a terrible year for the club, the fans and for the team.

"Personally, it was tough too. I had couple of weeks in the summer where I had to decide on what best to do

"But when Martin took over, I sat down with him and the gaffer, we managed to sort out a deal and, looking back, I'm really happy that I stayed.

"I've said from day one, if he wasn't in charge and Martin didn't take over then there's no way I'd have stayed at the club.