In the summer of 2001, new Yeovil managed Gary Johnson inherited a team in some disarray, having pushed Rushden to the last game of the season in 2000/01 but subsequently lost a number of the best and longest serving players. Johnson's first job was to replace keeper Tony Pennock (with Jon Sheffield), striker Warren Patmore (with Carl Alford) and creative midfielder Ben Smith (with Lee Johnson). The Glovers had also lost right back David Piper, who would eventually be replaced by Adam Lockwood in September, but they started the season with no recognised right back, and Nick Crittenden deputising. The first few months of Gary Johnson's tenure were mixed to say the least, with some shocking defending and a number of home defeats mixed in with some better performances. It would be fair to say, that it all worked out okay in the end.
