Regis departs for Wealdstone as Johnson reshuffles his squad
Midfielder Chris Regis has left Torquay United and signed for their National League South rivals Wealdstone.
The 21-year-old had been training with several clubs in recent weeks, after being told that he was not in manager Gary Johnson’s plans, and he has now joined the Stones after being released from his Plainmoor contract.
London-born Regis started his career with Arsenal and also played for Colchester United before a six-month spell with Port Vale last season.
He signed for former Torquay boss Gary Owers in the summer and made eight starts and one substitute appearance for United, scoring once, in the 7-0 FA Cup win at Lymington Town.
The departure of Regis follows a move for striker Andre Wright, who left the Gulls for Gloucester City recently.
Two other Torquay players, Bobson Bawling and Jason Banton, have also gone out on loan since Johnson’s arri- val, Bawling to Oxford City and Banton to St Albans City.
Johnson has revealed he will have no hesitation including 16-year-old Olaf Koszela in United’s first-team squad again, after he named the Torquay Academy striker on the substitutes’ bench for the first time.
The Gulls’ boss added that Koszela, who has scored 29 goals already this season, is not the only member of United’s youth team who has the potential to play for the senior side.
Koszela has spearheaded United’s run to the second round of the FA Youth Cup this season and, although he did not see action in last Saturday’s 2-2 draw against National League South leaders Billericay Town at Plainmoor, he would have been the fifth youngest player to have appeared in a competitive Torquay match if Johnson had sent him on.
Koszela – he and defender Josh Baxter have professional contracts waiting for them at Plainmoor when they turn 17 next year – has already played in a pre-season game against Plymouth Argyle.
The Gulls were weakened by injuries against Billericay, but Johnson stressed: “Picking Olaf was definitely more than a numbers issue.
“He had been doing very well in the youth team, scoring goals. He and other lads from that side train with the first team at least once a week, and we’ve had Olaf training with us almost fulltime and fitting his studies around that. We put him on the bench because of what he’s shown us and because it’s going to give him great experience.
“It was also a ‘well done’ to Torquay Academy and the other players for their success in the FA Youth Cup.
“It was an acknowledgement of the achievement of them and the staff, and it shows everyone that there is a link through to us at first-team level.”
United’s prospects will travel to Maidenhead Town in the second round of the FA Youth Cup next Monday.