After seeing his Glovers' side beat Carlisle United in their final league game of the 2010-11 campaign, which helped them to secure a 14th place finish, Yeovil Town boss Terry Skiverton could have been forgiven for looking ahead to the forthcoming close season with optimism.
However, Skiverton is now facing an extensive rebuilding programme ahead of the opening game of the 2011-12 season. A number of players have departed from Huish Park, including winger Andy Welsh who has signed for Carlisle United, defender Adam Virgo has joined the Paul Buckle revolution at Bristol Rovers, left back Nathan Smith has headed north after he was snapped up by League One champions Chesterfield.
Right back Craig Alcock is currently in negotiations with Peterborough United and as he is under 24, a fee will need to be agreed between the two clubs.
Skiverton is also waiting to hear from midfielders Alex Russell and Billy Gibson and there is strong speculation linking Russell with a coaching role at his former club, Torquay United.
Leading scorer Dean Bowditch has also turned down a new deal with Yeovil, but his destination remains unclear at the time of writing.
Nevertheless, Skiverton has been able to tempt his former team-mate Gavin Williams back to Huish Park for a fourth spell. Williams first joined the Glovers in 2002 from Hereford United and helped Yeovil win promotion to the Football League in his first season before moving on to West Ham United in 2004.
Spells at Ipswich Town, Bristol City and Bristol Rovers, plus two loan spells back at Huish Park, then followed for the Welshman before he became Skiverton's first summer 2011 signing.
One player tipped to follow him through the door at Huish Park is goalkeeper Stephen Henderson, who enjoyed two loan spells from Bristol City last season and virtually swept the board at the Glovers' Player of the Year awards, but his future at Ashton Gate still remains unclear.
Two other of last season's successful loanees Max Ehmer and Oli Johnson, whose respective parent club's QPR and Norwich City both won promotion to the Premiership last season, which means they could both find themselves being made available for loans.
Since he was appointed to succeed Russell Slade in February 2009, Skiverton has proved himself to be a shrewd investor in the loan market.
One of his best loan acquistions to date remains Spurs' starlet Steven Caulker, who is currently the subject of a loan bid from Premiership new boys Swansea City after having starred for Bristol City in a season-long loan spell, which also earned him his first cap for the England Under-21 side.
During his one-year stay in Somerset, Caulker pratically swept the boards in the Glovers' Player of the Year awards and remains a great example to any young hopeful considering a short stint at Huish Park.
