Former Bristol Rovers CEO Martyn Starnes has made a return to football, joining the board at Yeovil Town. Starnes will take up the same role at the Glovers that he had at the Gas, running the club's day-to-day operation.
Starnes left Rovers in November 2021, resigning after more than three years in BS7. He put his departure down to "personal reasons" and he was replaced by Tom Gorringe, who is closing in on a year in the role.
Starnes joined the Gas in 2018 after stints working at Plymouth Argyle and Yeovil, and he has returned to Huish Park. He has been assisting chairman Scott Priestnall in recent months and his role is set to be formalised, meaning he will work closely with manager – and fellow former Rovers employee – Chris Hargreaves.
"I can confirm that the club’s former CEO (Starnes) has been assisting myself and the club for the last few months and will be shortly appointed as a director of Yeovil Football & Athletic (Club) Limited and once again take up the role of CEO," Priestnall said in a statement on Yeovil's club website.
"Martyn has vast experience and expertise in football, and I look forward to Martyn leading the club off the field and working closely with Chris to improve on the field."
Starnes had a strong relationship with owner Wael Al-Qadi during his time at Rovers, and he was particularly influential in the appointment of Paul Tisdale after the sacking of Ben Garner in November 2020. Tisdale would later be replaced by Joey Barton, and it is understood tension had built between Barton and Starnes in the months before his exit.
At the time of his departure, Starnes said: “For personal reasons, I feel it is the right time for me to move on but I’d like to sincerely thank Wael Al-Qadi for the opportunity to work for a genuine family and community-based club to which he has made and continues to make an extraordinary commitment.
"I’ve enjoyed an excellent relationship with him and wish him every success.
"The last two seasons have been extremely challenging given the unprecedented circumstances created by the pandemic and the unexpected and hugely disappointing relegation from League One last season.
"I hope the club can bounce back quickly and continue pursuing the objective of Championship football. UTG.”
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