By Alex McMonnies
Yeovil Town have announced Mark Cooper as their new manager on a two-and-a-half-year deal.
The 53-year-old returns to management after his previous job at League Two side Barrow was ended by mutual termination in March. He replaces Chris Hargreaves at the Glovers’ helm.
Cooper is eager for a fresh start at Huish Park and believes a sense of togetherness is essential if the Glovers are going to turn their fortunes around.
“It’s good to be here,” he said in an interview on the club website.
“If you look historically, this can be a big club. We need to unite; the players, the supporters. Everybody needs to come together and that can play such a big part.
“If we do that, we can big attendances here and that was the biggest factor for me, so I’m excited and really looking forward to it.”
Cooper has managed as high up as the Championship, with a short spell in charge of Peterborough United during the 2009-10 season and has also had successful spells with Kettering Town and Swindon Town.
But he is probably best known for his five years at Forest Green Rovers between 2016 and 2021, during which he guided them into League Two for the first time in their history.
Yeovil chairman Scott Priestnall has full confidence in Cooper and believes his managerial experience makes him the right man for the job.
He said: “I’m delighted to welcome Mark to the Club, he is a manager I have admired for a long time.
“Mark has the promotion credentials we are looking for, with a strong background at this level and above.
“I’m pleased to get the deal done swiftly so Mark can get straight to work.”
Yeovil slipped into the relegation zone of the National League on Tuesday after suffering a 2-0 home defeat to Aldershot Town.
Cooper recognises that morale is low around the club and within the stands and is keen to put that right.
“At the moment it’s about simplifying things for the players,” he said.
“It’s about giving them a platform to try and regain some confidence and you do that by getting results and getting the fans onboard with some good performances.
“You can’t have a successful club if the players and the supporters are apart.
“Let’s see if we can put a smile back on people’s faces, I think that’s what is needed at the moment.”
