A Community Club is the right path for Torquay United

The ongoing ownership conundrum has now taken over five weeks to find a positive outcome but there is a growing sense that we are not far away from discovering who is in pole position to take over from the Clarke Osborne regime.

Former United manager Neil Warnock emerged from the pack last week to say he had met with some potential owners and was ‘impressed’ with what he heard.

While there is no suggestion that Warnock would be part of any new consortium, one group that has been central to discussions is Torquay United Supporters Trust (TUST).

Given the supporter distrust that blighted the Osborne era at Plainmoor, interested parties would be wise to get the United fans on board very quickly, and chatting to TUST is the natural first step in this process.

“All I can say is that thing are progressing but, like any business venture, it sometimes feels like one step forward and two steps back,” said TUST chairman Nick Brodrick. “There is a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes to save Torquay United.

“Everything will come out eventually but there is no secret that TUST has been talking with some of the potential investors in the club and, whoever emerges as the new ownership group, it is 100% crucial that the supporters are onside.

“We want Torquay United to return to its place as a community club in the proper sense of the word ‘community’. We want a family friendly club, where you are welcomed through the gate, rather than perhaps being seen as a customer.

“People want to be treated as a fan and, hopefully under new leadership, we want a return to those days.

“The difficulty at the moment is that those people who are potential investors have all signed Non-Disclosure Agreements because they’ve had access to sensitive information about the club.

“I don’t know the exact timescales but I hope things will evolve over the next week, although it is always possible there are people in the running that we haven’t met or even heard about.”

On the Warnock factor, it was fantastic to see the former United supremo, who famously guided the club away from relegation in 1993, back at Plainmoor for the weekend win over Hampton & Richmond.

Brodrick had the pleasure of meeting the football legend and was given the honour of ongoing tactical insights during the game.

He said “It was great to meet him and he’s got lots of football stories, as one would expect. I sat in front of him during the game and he does provide a running football commentary for much of the match.

“It felt like he was still in the dug-out, shifting players around and telling them where to go and what to do. It was very entertaining and he was very accommodating to people wanting to take selfies and have a chat with him.”

Whoever does take over at Plainmoor, any advice from Mr Warnock is good advice.