Neil Warnock ready and willing to help any TUFC owners

Former Torquay United and Plymouth Argyle manager Neil Warnock is ready and willing to play a key ‘consultant’ role for whoever takes over the Gulls.

Warnock, 75, who saved United from Football League relegation in 1993 and led Argyle to one of his record eight promotions, has been closely linked with a bid which has not been ‘preferred’ by the administrators currently charged with finding new owners.

But he has travelled from his home in east Cornwall to watch United’s last three matches, including Saturday’s 5-0 National League South finale against Havant & Waterlooville, as a guest of the Mike Westcott/Torquay United Supporters Trust bidders.

“We’re all waiting to see who the new owners will be. But, of course, I’d be pleased to help whoever takes over in any way I can,” said Warnock.

Warnock recently cut short a brief spell in charge of Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen.

He would have aided both Torquay and Plymouth Argyle, if they had asked him in the wake of Gary Johnson and Ian Foster departing Plainmoor and Home Park.

But at 75, and after more than 40 years, 16 clubs and 1,626 games, he is not intent on another manager role.

However, he does believe that, as well as helping in recruitment and other football areas, he could also play a positive role in commercial and fund-raising activities.

Meanwhile, the clock is ticking and the pressure growing at Plainmoor, where a season of troubles ended at the weekend without any announcements from either the administrators, Begbies Traynor, or the preferred bidders.

There is a huge amount to do, on and off the pitch, and most of it needs to be in place by the National League’s annual meeting in early June at the latest.

But first United need to be lifted out of administration as soon as possible, and new owners installed with a fresh plan and vision for the future which the fans can get behind.

Although the people currently in pole position have still to be confirmed – they are not believed to be any of the previously rumoured contenders – there is a chance that more than one group could end up playing a boardroom role.

The Westcott/TUST consortium have not gone away. They are keeping a close eye on developments and appear ready to help if asked or required.

Although there are plenty of problems to be overcome and important decisions to be taken, Saturday’s last match of 2023-2024 underlined one key ‘plus’ in the whole scenario.

The attendance, for a game between already-safe United and doomed Havant, was 3,379, including 63 Hawks fans.

It lifted the Gulls’ average league gate to 2,446.

That’s for another hugely disappointing campaign, which would have seen them finish halfway (12th) down the NL South even if they hadn’t been docked eleven points.

It’s also UP on 2022-2023 when the club was relegated from the NL Premier.