Holding pattern for Torquay United

A ‘Hands-On’ regime to see the club through the next few months, and buy more time for new investors to come on board, is emerging as an increasingly practical option for the immediate future of Torquay United.

CEO George Edwards and finance director Mel Hayman, both members of ex-chairman Clarke Osborne’s small board, are still running the club on a day-to-day basis.

Edwards, who filled his role under Osborne for the last seven years, also recently resigned as a director of Osborne’s Toklon and Gaming International companies.

Although many Gulls fans may want a break with the Osborne regime and a new direction for the club, there are some perilous waters to navigate straight ahead.

The top priority is to get through that period and buy what is a crucial commodity – some time.

From the moment that Osborne so suddenly ‘pulled the plug’ and threatened to put the club into administration on February 22, time has been against everyone trying to deal with such a worrying scenario.

A matter of a few weeks is hardly long enough for most interested parties to mobilise their resources and clear all the barriers associated with a takeover.

So, what’s almost certainly needed is someone to stabilise the situation and ensure that there is an intact and functioning club for people to buy into.

Edwards, since he’s been here, and lifelong Gulls fan Hayman have both demonstrated their commitment to the club in often unspectacular ways over recent years, and neither has shown any signs of ‘jumping ship’ yet.

Approaches from potential new investors have also been going through them, and they are continuing to engage and talk with several of those parties.

Meanwhile, Osborne’s threat of administration remains, and with it a likely ten-point deduction.

All the heartwarming support and donations coming from the fans are vital.

But, with only nine games to go now, the on-field priority for interim manager Aaron Downes and his squad is to earn as many points as quickly as possible to keep the club, in that worst case scenario, away from the relegation zone.