Osborne has his man in place for the ‘big decisions’ at Plainmoor

FANS’ FUNZONE TAMPLIN BACK

Defender Kyle Cameron clears the ball with a header against Chippenham

In the continuing absence of the ‘local board’ which owner Clarke Osborne included in his Five-Year Plan and has yet to deliver, the spotlight in Torquay United’s current crisis has fallen for the first time on George Edwards.

Edwards is not a name that will be known to many Gulls fans, he does not have an official ‘title’ at Plainmoor and he has not appeared in any club photographs or press releases.

But he is Osborne’s right-hand man, charged in recent months with making most of the big decisions.

He’s been a pretty hands-on figure at the club, and a cheery one at that.

The fact that Osborne has still not installed a local board, despite the fact that several candidates are ready and waiting, has again highlighted the fact that he remains an ‘absentee’ chairman.

It is only right to stress that Osborne has sunk, and is still sinking, thousands of pounds a month into United, and a damn good thing he is too.

It was he who announced, well before the end of last season, that he would back a ‘full-time’ TUFC even if they were relegated to the National League South.

But it was he, and manager Gary Owers, who said inequivocably after the drop that the NL South title, or at least promotion, were the minimum requirements this season.

But, apart from a couple of midweek visits, to launch his new-stadium plans and for United’s annual shareholders’ meeting, Osborne has carried on conducting his stewardship of the club from his HQ near Bristol.

And that has made Edwards an all the more important figure, especially now.

In the face of the supporters’ angry reaction to unacceptable performances and results on the pitch, it is Edwards to whom Osborne is surely turning for the feedback and guidance to make vital decisions.

For the record Edwards is a highly experienced businessman who has been a close associate of Osborne’s for many years. Among other posts, he is a former operations director at the Pontin’s Holiday Resort chain and a director of Osborne’s Gaming International group for nearly five years.

He is the man making the key calls at Plainmoor... A collaboration between Torquay United Supporters Trust, the Supporters Club, the Community Trust and the parent club saw the ‘debut’ of a colourful new ‘Fanzone’ outside Plainmoor before last Saturday’s game against Chippenham.

A Premier League grant helped to pay for the ‘blow-up’ zone, which aims to entertain young fans and spice up the club’s community links.

BIG BOOT FROM ALEX

Many good goalkeepers and defenders have ‘tried’ over the years, but it’s some time since anybody managed to clear not only Marnham Road but also the houses on the opposite side.

But United’s on-loan goalie Alex Bass did it with a clearance against Chippenham last Saturday – and with a bit to spare!

‘HOMETOWN’ BOY

Jake Andrews certainly tried his best to save United from defeat against Chippenham, but he’d almost certainly have got a bit of stick from Town fans if his brilliant chip had equalised in the second half.

Chippenham is Bristol City loanee Andrews’ hometown club.

STRANGE BUT TRUE

United’s goals-against tally (four) may still be the best in the division, but only third-from-bottom East Thurrock have scored as few as the Gulls’ total of five in nine games. Only a few days after he said that he was fed up with the criticism and had put the club up for sale, Billericay Town owner Glenn Tamplin announced at the weekend that he is staying.

That’s unless he finds a buyer ‘with the same ambition’ that he has within three weeks.

So he’s definitely staying then...

KLUKOWSKI COMEBACK

Former Gulls midfielder Yan Klukowski marked his long-awaited comeback with a cameo sub appearance for Chippenham against his old club at the weekend.

Klukowksi has been out for two months with a deep-muscle calf injury.

Sean Hernon/PPAUK