Aaron Downes: ‘Time to fulfil our potential’

The ten-point deduction that has been hanging over Torquay United ever since administrators were called into the club has now been delivered by the National League.

The Gulls now have to change their focus from a fading play-off chase to ensuring they are not sucked into a relegation battle over the final nine games of a wretched season.

United sit three points above the drop zone but interim boss Aaron Downes has been steadfast in reminding his players of their potential.

“It’s something we’ve known about in the background but it has come earlier than we expected,” he said. “I’ve spoken to the players about the fact we’ve been deducted ten points but the team isn’t of the level the table represents.

“We know we can perform as one of the best teams in this division when we’re on it. We have to keep the mindset and keep that belief.

“We can’t allow ourselves to lower our standards because of the position in the table or allow ourselves to be sucked into situations we should not be in. We are a team that, on our day, can beat anybody.

“There is a real togetherness and an attitude to make sure we perform for this football club, to make sure there are no issues moving forward.

“We won those ten points and they’ve been deducted from us. This team is good enough to be higher than our previous position of 12th and we’ve got to make sure we fulfil our potential.

“I 100% believe that this squad, at their best, is easily capable of being in the play-off places.”

United’s first step in moving away from the bottom four is a trip to Tonbridge Angels on Saturday and Downes has called for his team to match the amazing passion demonstrated by the Yellow Army over the past few turbulent weeks.

The midweek defeat to Taunton Town was a long way short of the standards expected and Downes wants the energy from the crowd to be echoed on the pitch.

“It has been unbelievably humbling to see the support we have shown as a football club and it’s so important that we keep that togetherness,” he said.

“The players have bought into the football club and the supporters have helped that by giving us the energy from the stands that we’ve needed. We let ourselves down on Tuesday night but, prior to that, we’ve used that energy.

“I know the support will be there for the next nine games and we have to give the supporters a performance of commitment and passion.”