Fans’ group welcomes Plainmoor olive branch

Peace may have broken out just in time for Christmas between a group of Torquay United fans and the Plainmoor hierarchy.
Relations between the club management and the Torquay United Supporters Trust have been at an all-time low. They weren’t helped by a string of poor performances on the pitch which culminated in a sit-in protest by a small group of fans at Plainmoor and demands for the heads of manager Gary Johnson and CEO George Edwards.
The turning point was an exclusive interview in the Torbay Weekly with club owner Clarke Osborne who, after ploughing £6m of his own money into United in the past six years and saving it from administration, revealed he was fully behind the Plainmoor team both on and off the field.
He was also quick to criticise some supporters whose remarks were becoming personal.
But at the same time an olive branch was being held out to the Trust and on the field Johnson and the team were putting together a run of good results, despite a growing player injury list, including a latest FA Trophy victory at Frome Town on Saturday.
The United management have offered to set up an online Fans Forum so communication levels can be improved. They have also tabled plans for an independent steering group to be formed so everybody has an input.