Although Yeovil Town might be playing in the sixth tier of English football for the first time since 1997, optimism is higher at Huish Park than it has been for a long time.
Following their summer takeover by local businessman and life long Glovers fan Martin Hellier, an immediate return to the National League is in the thoughts of manager Mark Cooper, who has brought in a number of new faces, including Jake Hyde and former Gulls striker Frank Nouble. Rhys Murphy has also returned to Huish Park for a second spell with the club. Scoring goals was an issue for the Glovers in 2022-23 and hopefully the addition of the aforementioned trio can solve that problem.
Hellier's takeover has also brought some much needed stability to the club, following the chairmanship of the unpopular Scott Priestnall and the short lived 'stewardship' by Matt Uggla, who has become the owner of York City.
As well as the new faces, club stalwarts Josh Staunton and Matt Worthington remain; however, Staunton won't be able to play of any of the away games against teams with artificial surfaces due to a knee problem. Cooper also bolstered his defence with the signings of centre back Jamie Sendles-White and left back Alex Whittle.
Both Hyde and Murphy have fine pedigrees of scoring goals in the National League South from their stints with Woking and Chelmsford City respectively. If the three Jordans - Stevens, Maguire-Drew and Young - can provide them and Nouble with plenty of ammunition, then a title is very much on for the Glovers.
Should they win promotion at the first time of asking, Mark Cooper will also become the first manager to win promotions from both National League North and National League South, after winning the North with Kettering Town in 2007-08.
Player to Watch: Frank Nouble
The well travelled Nouble was on the radar of manager Mark Cooper towards the end of last season, but the Glovers couldn't get the deal completed so he joined Torquay United instead. Now Cooper has got his man, he will be hoping can help to inspire a promotion challenge.
In: Rhys Murphy (Southend United), Jake Hyde (Wrexham), Jake Wannell (Taunton Town), Lewis Williams (Tiverton Town), Will Buse and Josh Owers (Bristol City), Jamie Sendles-White (Welling United), Frank Nouble (Torquay United), Alex Whittle (Chesterfield), Sonny Blu Lo-Everton (Derby County), Zac Bell and Ollie Thomas (Bristol City, loan)
Out: Grant Smith (Bromley), Charlie Wakefield (Woking), Jamie Reckord and Ben Richards-Everton (Gloucester City), Max Hunt (Buxton), Lawson D'ath (Banbury United), Callum Harriott & Zanda Siziba (York City), Jake Scrimshaw (Eastleigh), Ollie Hulbert (Barry), Malachi Linton (Taunton Town, loan), Ollie Haste and Benjani Junior (Dorchester Town),
