The joy of rumour and speculation at a rejuvenated Torquay United

Every football fan knows that the glorious fun of the close-season is all the rumour and speculation that comes with the summer months.

In the case of Torquay United, it is going to be particularly exciting, as the club looks forward to a fresh era under the ownership of the Bryn Consortium.

The new owners were confirmed on Friday, sparking a wave of enthusiasm from the Yellow Army, and the customary churning of a rumour mill that ranges from managerial appointments to the texture of the Plainmoor pitch, and everything in between.

From the management perspective, Truro City boss Paul Wotton appears to be the massive frontrunner to take on the reins at Plainmoor. Nothing has been confirmed but it seems that interim manager Aaron Downes may well end his long relationship with the club.

Downes was a fine centre-half for the Gulls in his playing days and a key figure in the Gary Johnson era at Plainmoor. While there were obviously some very tough moments over the past six years, Downes handled the interim role with admirable dignity and class in a very uncertain time for the club.

Ultimately, he steered United clear of relegation, despite the points deductions and if he has said farewell to Plainmoor, Downes deserves credit for his approach to a very trying few months at the helm.

Wotton, meanwhile, is a Plymouth Argyle legend from his playing career and has demonstrated in his time at Truro that he is capable of sustaining a club in the National League South, even with a relatively low budget.

It is assumed, if Wotton does take the United job, that he will have a lot more money to play with than in his previous role, and he certainly knows the league.

Guiding Wotton from above will almost certainly be the vast experience of Neil Warnock, who has been an important figure in the Bryn Consortium plan and has repeatedly expressed his desire to help United build a better future.

From the playing side, whoever is steering the ship has a major and swift rebuild on their hands. It is a clean slate at Plainmoor and the rumour mill has already mentioned Luke Young following his departure from Wrexham. Bringing back the experience and quality of Young, a former United captain, would definitely be a strong statement.

Will United be full-time, part-time or a hybrid of both?

Only time will tell on that one but from their initial comments, the new owners seem a pragmatic bunch and it would be crazy for any club to turn away the services of a ‘top’ player at this level, even if it means adopting a flexible playing / training model.

One area that MUST be protected for any new era at Plainmoor is the youth system. It has happened too many times in United’s recent past, where a change of ownership has seen the abandonment of an ‘Academy’ set-up.

Right now, as we speak and speculate, there are talented young footballers from South Devon who are benefiting other football clubs. Torquay United, like any professional outfit, should do everything possible to develop, nurture and promote the next generation of talent, because the sale of just one gem can change everything.

Off the pitch, another rumour doing the rounds was about the pitch. Should United pursue the option of an artificial surface? It would obviously help with short-term revenue but what happens if the route back to the EFL, where only grass pitches are permitted, is quicker than even the biggest optimist could imagine.

And who will steer the ship behind the scenes?

It is not thought that George Edwards and Mel Hayman, the main players in the Clarke Osborne era, are expected to continue their roles at Plainmoor, but that will presumably leave a leadership void in the day-to-day running of the club, although there are some fantastic troops working behind the scenes at Plainmoor.

Michael Westcott, the Bryn Consortium lead, has already stated that the group know their strengths and also know the areas where they will need some guidance, and massive credit to them for showing humility and transparency in their communication, an approach not seen by the Yellow Army for many years.

This week will bring answers to many of the key questions, it is going to be a thrilling ride of speculation and anticipation.

When we look back on the doom, gloom, uncertainty and unrest of recent times at Plainmoor, the Yellow Army, more than anyone else, deserve to be excited.