Yet another club at the mercy...........

of unscrupulous owners. Gulls sole owner Clarke Osbourne (through his own company) gave his first media interview today in 16mths, after much pressure from fans groups, even from the local MP. Torquay are on the verge of relegation (likely this Saturday) to National League South, Osbourne is insisting the only way forward is to build a new ground to be sustainable - no other way, his record in the world of speedway is somewhat dubious.
Torquay now on the uneviable list of clubs ruined by mismanagement and alterior motives with Orient, Blackpool, Dagenham and many others.
It would be good for Devon football to maintain three professional clubs whatever club people support, sadly the signs are that Torquay will continue to drop further away from the football league.

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Its  happening all over the country. Profiteers after prime land. I wonder if we'll ever see moves from Brent and Hallett re a groundshare at a new stadium. Brent was sniffing around Torquay for some reason, what with the training ground thing and no goals Nat.

The Oldway Manor stadium. Obvious innit.

Capacity 10,000. Charge £50 a ticket. Retail and residential park at HHP. Sorted. Get yourself a season ticket for the Gold Stagecoach bus to Torbay, sorted. Funnily enough I'm on said bus as I type listening to some mundanities.

beesrus wrote:

Its  happening all over the country. Profiteers after prime land. I wonder if we'll ever see moves from Brent and Hallett re a groundshare at a new stadium. Brent was sniffing around Torquay for some reason, what with the training ground thing and no goals Nat.

I don't understand how Plainmoor could ever be considered prime land. Its situated in a sleepy residential miles from anywhere. Its nowhere near the town centre, its nowhere near any of the towns railways stations and it nowhere of the main routes in and out of anywhere. Its a bastard to get to and its a bastard to park. Great day out though.

Should be nice and sunny in The Bay today for you.

Yes heading over to Grinigog fest later- an evening of Channel 1 sound system and some more hearing loss no doubt.

Simmertones should be playing somewhere, always put on a decent Ska show.

Torquay relegated - feck off Osbourne!

akagreengull wrote:

Torquay relegated - feck off Osbourne!

Inevitobow but sad. Hope to see them back. Are they only the 2nd ex-League club, after Stockport, to be relegated out of the Conference?

Innocent Egbunike wrote:

akagreengull wrote:

Torquay relegated - feck off Osbourne!

Inevitobow but sad. Hope to see them back. Are they only the 2nd ex-League club, after Stockport, to be relegated out of the Conference?

York and Chester also spring to mind.

Greenskin wrote:

Innocent Egbunike wrote:

akagreengull wrote:

Torquay relegated - feck off Osbourne!

Inevitobow but sad. Hope to see them back. Are they only the 2nd ex-League club, after Stockport, to be relegated out of the Conference?

York and Chester also spring to mind.

Didn’t they fold and reform lower down? Cue cries of ‘wish we had’!

Innocent Egbunike wrote:

Greenskin wrote:

Innocent Egbunike wrote:

akagreengull wrote:

Torquay relegated - feck off Osbourne!

Inevitobow but sad. Hope to see them back. Are they only the 2nd ex-League club, after Stockport, to be relegated out of the Conference?

York and Chester also spring to mind.

Didn’t they fold and reform lower down? Cue cries of ‘wish we had’!

Chester may have but York certainly went straight through. Strange looking at those leagues now and seeing how many clubs once provided regular opposition for Argyle in the third division.

Stockport too.

I stand corrected. Forgot about York. They were shafted too.

alannotivvy wrote:

Simmertones should be playing somewhere, always  put on a decent Ska show.

Great band.

Darlington halifax Boston Workington barrow Scarborough

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A good account of the rapid demise of a football club and real concerns for it's survival and another example of how falling into the wrong hands can destroy a proud club.
Shocking but it's been on the cards for a while.

Can't see Torquay getting back to the Conference for awhile ?.

National League South will be a major shock to them. They can look forward to the likes of Truro City, WSM, Bath City et al.

I expect crowd sizes at Torquay will drop off.

This is when the fanbase needs to rally round, Torquay should be able to muster enough fans to have the biggest budget and draw on players in that league, it's whether enough of a buzz can be generated with an owner in charge who isn't in it for the lip quivering. As my birthplace, although I was too young to remember it, I have a very soft spot for the Turks and watched many matches there, I will make an effort to catch a couple of their matches next season, they will come good just a case of hanging in there at the moment.

There are no former league clubs currently in National League South but there's 5 in the National League North - Boston, Darlington, Kiddermister H, Stockport and York

Darlo and Boston were both booted down the leagues for financial meltdown. Forgotten about Kiddy though too.

Freathy wrote:

There are no former league clubs currently in National League South but there's 5 in the National League North - Boston, Darlington, Kiddermister H, Stockport and York

Plus Gainsborough, Southport and Bradford Park Avenue.

I wonder what crowds Argo would draw if they were in Turkey's position?

Earwegoagain wrote:

This is when the fanbase needs to rally round, Torquay should be able to muster enough fans to have the biggest budget and draw on players in that league, it's whether enough of a buzz can be generated with an owner in charge who isn't in it for the lip quivering. As my birthplace, although I was too young to remember it, I have a very soft spot for the Turks and watched many matches there, I will make an effort to catch a couple of their matches next season, they will come good just a case of hanging in there at the moment.

I'd like to think Earwegoagain that next season a few Argo fans would make an effort to support the club (not Osbourne) and it's 119yr history particularly if the local derby of Torquay v Truro happens, given Truro have a real chance of making the playoffs that fixture isn't certain. Must admit feel guilty about this up until three seasons ago I used to attend 4 -6 games standing in the Popside, last season none, this season only one against Sutton Utd. Crowds have dropped to at most 1.5k given the terrible season this is understandable.
Wouldn't be surprised if they average 1.2 -1.3k next season, unfortunately it all looks rather grim, have just read this article in the Torygraph, which is perhaps accurate in it's pessimism of the clubs future.
Despite what Clarke Osbourne says the club needs to remain at Plainmoor, yes it has poor transport links and accessibility but it is in Torquay and not outside and for L2
and even L1 it is a very acceptable stadium.
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