OFFICIALS at Yeovil Town FC have unveiled a series of new plans in readiness for the start of the 2003-04 season.

While manager Gary Johnson and his players have just returned to pre-season training this week, major changes have been taking place behind the scenes at Huish Park all summer.

New dugouts are being constructed to meet Football League regulations while safety legislation has meant that a new control box and various other health and safety driven changes to the seating and terracing are taking place.

The corporate boxes and conference centre at Huish Park have also seen changes and a 108-year photographic record of Yeovil Town's history is currently being prepared to be displayed on the top floor.

A new executive restaurant will now be operated in the Glovers' Executive Loung, while plans are at an advanced stage for a marquee-based supporters' bar to be situated next to the astro-turf facility.

Discussions with Avon and Somerset Constabulary, the Fire Brigade and licensing authorities are at an advanced stage for this temporary supporters' bar which will hopefully be installed and operating during the early part of the new season.

More car parking spaces are also being created at the front of the stadium, while a new hi-tech ticketing system is being installed in a new ticket office.

The matchday programme is also being changed with a new full colour format and an extra 16 pages and lots of new features.

All these changes have resulted in a major investment in new staff and a complete reconstruction of the behind-the-scenes management structure.

A big recruitment drive is taking place to bring the matchday stewarding level up to 130 for the new season and an extra 30 upstairs bar staff and waitresses are to be recruited.

Rob Newport, who has been involved with the Cary Glovers Supporters' Group, and his wife Allison have been appointed to run the Huish Park bars with Anne Anderson, while security will be in operation to control the upstairs area.

As part of club chairman John Fry's restructuring plan, five divisions have been set up to manage the operations of the Huish Park outfit. The changes include:

The football division will obviously be run by manager Gary Johnson.

The commercial division will continue to be run under the control of Dave Linney.

A new press and publications division has been set up which press officer Adrian Hopper will manage.

James Hillier will be returning to the club as stadium manager with responsibility of overseeing the changes to the stadium and ticketing system.

A new safety officer has been appointed in the shape of Eric Read.

A sales executive has been recruited to improve the club's profile in the wider local area.

A customer hospitality division will be created to improve the quality of services in the club's bars and first floor catering and conference areas.

The changes come about due to Yeovil's promotion to the Football League and chairman Mr Fry has described them as 'very necessary.'

"We are now a Football League club and we have to move forward in a very competitive environment," he said. "We have both youth and experience ready to meet the challenge and provide Gary Johnson with the behind-the-scenes professionalism he needs."