GULLS’ FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL
TORQUAY United face a battle for survival after a dramatic 24 hours in which the club’s future was put in doubt after they revealed their intention to appoint administrators.
Just hours after owner Clarke Osborne admitted he could no longer fund the club, long-serving manager Gary Johnson left amid pressure from fans following a seven-match winless run stretching back to late January.
The club have been owned by Osborne since 2016 and have been relegated twice from the National League on his watch. Should they formally enter adminstration, a deduction of ten points is set to drop them perilously close to the relegation zone as they bid to avoid dropping into the Southern League.
“It is with sincere regret that I advise that circumstances beyond my control during the last five weeks have brought me to the position that I an unable to continue financial support for the club and I have today filed on behalf of the directors an intention to appoint an administrator for the club and company,” Osborne said.
It all amounts to a worrying time for Gulls supporters, who had planned a “yellow-card” protest for yesterday’s home game with Aveley before news broke that Osborne had stepped down as chairman and Johnson had resigned after nearly five-and-a-half years in charge.
Concern
Turmoil on and off the pitch, where the Devon side are bottom of the National League South form table, has caused concern for the club’s followers with fan and TV presenter Helen Chamberlain writing on X: “The news doesn’t get much worse than this. Just hope it becomes a fresh start for @ TUFC1899 rather than the alternative!!”
Osborne had kept Torquay afloat with the Gulls’ last set of accounts showing loans of almost £4.3million to the club. He warned: “The financing of football in this country is precarious and can only thrive in the lower divisions where there is either a close collaborative relationship with the local authority, it is a trophy asset or is backed by substantial local individuals and businesses.
Overhaul
“I believe it needs a fundamental overhaul of its financing structure, rights distribution in the lower leagues and recognition that many clubs represent a fundamental part of the local community and its visitor attractions.”
Osborne also maintained that the club need to leave Plainmoor in order to progress despite having had no success in attempting to move them previously.
“The prospect of creating a new stadium and commercial facility was the driver for the investment, the excitement to deliver something truly transformative for the club and Torbay,” he said.
Johnson, meanwhile, had been under fire following a worrying set of results recently and gave a press conference on Thursday afternoon before news broke that he too was going.
“I have enjoyed most of my five-and-a-half year tenure but given the current situation, both parties agreed to part ways,” said the former Cambridge United, Yeovil Town and Cheltenham Town boss.
Johnson’s former No.2 Aaron Downes took the team against Aveley yesterday with Johnson’s blessing, even if the longer-term future of both team and club is less clear.
“Me and the gaffer have spoken about things previously but this came unexpectedly I suppose,” said the 38-year-old. “But the manager’s been very selfless, shall I say, in his actions and how things have been dealt with. The respect I have for the man is very high and he is happy for me to carry on, for however long that is for.”
Expect players, staff and fans to unite now in a bid to stave off relegation and put one of the toughest days in the club’s history behind them, even if the respite may be brief.