Torquay United Supporters' Trust reject suggestion of any 'unlawful' activity

The already frosty relationship between Torquay United and the Supporters Trust (TUST) appears to have deteriorated further after the club issued a strongly-worded statement in the wake of a TUST fans’ forum on Wednesday night.

The forum at Torquay’s Livermead Cliff Hotel, attended by around 50 fans, including local MP Kevin Foster with more following via a ‘live stream’, voted in favour of some sort of protest at a National League South match next month.

The club promptly issued a statement condemning any encouragement of ‘disruptive, anti-social or criminal behaviour such as pitch invasions and the throwing of missiles’.

TUST insist that their vote did not recommend anything along those lines and would be a ‘sit-in’.

Reading supporters, angry at the way the Royals’ owners are running that club, recently threw tennis balls on to the pitch, causing a game to be delayed.

United’s statement read: “The club is concerned to learn of a directive issued by Nick Brodrick, chairman of the TUST, encouraging supporters of the club to participate in a planned protest during the forthcoming home game against Tonbridge Angels Dec 3).

“Whilst everyone at TUAFC recognises that football is a passionate sport and fully appreciates that all supporters are entitled to voice their opinions, the club strongly condemns the instigating of disruptive, anti-social or criminal behaviour such as pitch invasions and the throwing of missiles which puts the safety of players, staff, officials and supporters at risk.”

Stressing the club’s work on community initiatives and making Plainmoor a ‘safe and welcoming environment’ for home and away fans, the statement continues: “The club will not tolerate any action taken by groups to threaten or intimidate others, and appropriate action will therefore be taken on all individuals caught participating in any such activities.”

Brodrick responded: “There was no agreement or any suggestion that there should be a pitch invasion or I think, as they put it, missiles thrown on to the pitch.

“None of that is true.

“What was agreed by the end of the meeting was a peaceful sit-in after a game, which we would hope would be lawful, because we cannot be involved in anything which would be unlawful.”

Brodrick stressed that TUST understood and recognised the large financial commitment, believed to be around £6 million, which owner Clarke Osborne has put into United, and his role in ensuring the existence of the club in its current form.

But he stressed that the forum had been prompted by a frustration over communication problems between club and fans, especially TUST.