With the 2018/19 campaign looming, the first-team return to Huish Park in the coming days to begin their preparation for the new season. 

Amongst the familiar faces will be the four new arrivals in Somerset, with Diallang Jaiyesimi, Carl Dickinson, Nathan Baxter and Gary Warren representing the club’s summer transfer activity thus far.

With just under six weeks until the transfer window closes, Way is pleased with the way his squad is coming together.  

“As a manager, it’s the first time our foundations have been built with experience at the core,” he told YTFC.net.

“I feel recruitment has gone very well and Omar (Sowunmi) can be the last part of the jigsaw as far as the defence goes.

“The long-term strategy of the club is to develop young talent who can progress whilst in an environment where you’ve got to win – that’s why having an experienced core is so important to instill their knowledge and know-how.”

Way continued: “When we played Forest Green Rovers in April the average age of the starting eleven was 21. That was a game to secure our EFL status and the experience they would’ve gained from that would be unparalleled in under-21s football.”

Left with just three players last summer, the Glovers boasted a squad of 14 at the end of the 2017/18 campaign after a change in recruitment policy which saw the award of numerous longer-term contracts. 

Also posting a profit for the year ending June 2017, Town’s boss is pleased with off the field developments. 

“We’ve made it a financially robust operation,” he said. “We’ve lost players in previous years for nothing with contracts expiring.

“It’s taken time and patience but we’re now in a position where we can award longer contracts to benefit us instead of other clubs.”

Commenting on speculation regarding the futures of Otis Khan and Tom James, he said: “We don’t want to sell our best players, but we are at least in a position to be renumerated for any departures.

“That will allow this club to continue to evolve.”

After a summer away from Huish Park, pre-season action returns on July 11th when Swansea City visit.

As Town supporters prepare to return, Way is also looking to build relationships off the pitch.

“I’ve put a great emphasis on the squad and myself to rekindle the relationship with the community which I feel has been lost in previous years.

“I’ve had a meeting with all head teachers in Yeovil to discuss how we can pull together and the first-team players are out in the community with YTCST. 

“Our fans wear their hearts on their sleeve and we are desperate to give them success.”