Half a million reasons for Torquay United to make structure changes

Torquay United say that their mid-season cost-cutting and restructure drive comes as the club heads towards a projected loss of more than £500,000 this season.

Gulls supporters have been worried at the news that some off-field staff are leaving halfway through a campaign aimed at winning promotion (writes Dave Thomas).

Co-chairmen Mike Westcott and Mark Bowes-Cavanagh insist that owners the Bryn Consortium remain ‘fully committed to supporting the club’.

And they add: “They (Consortium) will continue to provide the necessary funding to help Torquay United move towards a more sustainable future.”

Westcott and Bowes-Cavanagh have invited fans to submit questions for their latest Chairmen’s Chat.

But, ahead of that conversation, they have moved to explain why the current shake-up is needed.

It’s become clear that the board has had to spend heavily on stadium improvements and infrastructure, on top of the expensive business of hauling the club out of administration 19 months ago.

United also report: “Like many clubs, Torquay United is facing rising costs across football – energy bills, medical cover, insurances, National Insurance and player wage inflation are all increasing significantly.

“As it stands, the club’s operating costs are north of £500,000 higher than our revenues.

“That’s not a position we can ignore if we want a strong future.

“Everything we are doing is about protecting the club and giving us the best possible chance to build a winning team on the pitch.”

Not for the first time, Westcott and Bowes-Cavanagh also stress the importance of ‘reducing our dependence on matchday income and building a genuine year-round business with new areas of activity’.

Most of United’s off-field staff have had to reapply for their jobs, accept new roles or, in some cases, opt for redundancy.

The fact that it’s all happening just before Christmas has surprised and concerned many fans.

But it is also falling during a break of nearly three weeks between United’s last home game (Dec 6) and the visit of Westcountry rivals Weston-super-Mare to Plainmoor on Boxing Day.

The Gulls are hoping for their biggest earner of the season against Weston, anticipating a near-5,000 crowd.

Before then, Paul Wotton’s team will travel to AFC Totton next Saturday (Dec 20), hoping to complete their first league ‘double’ of the season against the club that also knocked them out of the FA Cup.