Yeovil Town owner Hellier steps down as chairman

Martin Hellier funded Yeovil Town's National League South title-winning campaign last season

Yeovil Town owner Martin Hellier has stepped down from the chairmanship of the club, having suffered online abuse from some fans.

In a statement on the Yeovil website, he said it had been "a privilege" to serve in the role, but shareholder Stuart Robins would take over as interim chairman while a new owner is found.

"I am proud of the significant changes made around the club, changes that I believe will benefit it for years to come," Hellier said.

"Helping the club regain its place in the National League was a key milestone, and while the journey has had its challenges, real progress has been made.

"However, due to the pressures placed on myself and my family, I have made the decision to step away from my role."

The businessman has been in charge at Huish Park for almost two years and funded his side's promotion back to the National League last season.

The Glovers - whose 16-season stay in the English Football League ended in 2019 - are currently 13th in the fifth tier.

"I fully intend to sell the club and leave as soon as a suitable buyer is found," Hellier said earlier in a statement on social media.

"It's simply not worth losing the money to be abused and my children abused and so on.

"I would ask in the meantime that you stop the endless online harassment and abuse. You've done enough, it's worked."

The relationship between Hellier and the fans has been uneasy for some time.

A number of supporters, including unofficial podcast Gloverscast, have been banned from Huish Park for comments made on social media.

The banning orders led to a backlash from supporters on social media directed at Hellier, who responded with abusive posts of his own.

Yeovil fan Jonathan Hooper posted a picture of a letter he received from the club, telling him that he had been banned because of his comments online.

But, speaking to BBC Radio Five Live, he insisted he had not been abusive.

"In a way I expected it because I'd seen other fans getting similar letters before me," he said.

"The whole atmosphere around the club is becoming toxic. It's not a great place to be, but at the same time everything I have done has not been abusive.

"Yes, I have been critical but I haven't been aggressive, I haven't been abusive. It's a bit of a punch in the stomach, let's just say."

Hooper said he had also posted on social media to tell other fans to stop abusing Hellier.

"One day in particular his son was getting particular abuse and I did put a tweet out saying 'come on, this isn't fair to him or the family'," added Hooper.

Under Hellier's leadership, the Glovers cruised to the National League South title last season, although recently published accounts show the club made a loss of almost £2.8m in the process.

"My investment provided the club with the funds needed to get through and provided you with football and promotion to the NL (National League) but has given me nothing but abuse and minus £4m personal deficit," Hellier added.

"So yes, I do not intend to be at YTFC next season. Your abuse has succeeded. Now leave me alone until the end of the season."