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Fan Zone 18/05/2024

FAN ZONE



TUST's Chair, Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.



BRYN  TO  THE  RESCUE  ONCE  MORE  AS  NEW  MANAGER  SIGNS


A  NEW  ERA  OF  COMMUNICATION  WITH  FANS  HAS  BEGUN


PAINT  UP  PLAINMOOR  -  WHAT  A  FANTASTIC  RESPONSE



The news that all Torquay United fans had been waiting for came through just before midday last Friday when the administrators confirmed that, subject to the club’s creditors accepting a deal, the aptly named Bryn Consortium were the new owners of the club.


In the short space of ten days lead investor Michael Westcott, along with five others, spent hours long into the nights putting together a deal that would more than satisfy not only the administrators but also the National League.

Over last weekend Westcott has been open, honest and transparent in a variety of interviews on radio and in the press.


Every Torquay United fan should have been jumping up and down with a mixture of excitement and relief. For we have got our club back. The days of feeling unwelcome and regarded as customers are over - stand by for that friendly, welcome to Plainmoor feeling that we are all in this together.


Torquay is returning to a proper community club, for the fans and run by fans as all the investors are life-long supporters of the club.


*****


On Saturday on Radio Devon Westcott confirmed the role Neil Warnock will play at the club and he has been involved very much in the background leading up to this moment.

With Warnock in charge of the football operations he led a Press Conference on Tuesday afternoon to introduce the new Torquay United manager, Paul Wotton, at the Livermead Cliff Hotel. This has the potential to be an exciting partnership. Stand by for the journey.


The new manager will be handed a very competitive playing budget, maybe the highest in the National South and it will be up to him and Warnock as to how it is spent. A mixture of full and part time players is on the cards and maybe some of last season’s squad retained. We shall all find out soon.


*****


A number of TUST board members spent a three hour meeting with Michael Westcott and Joe Lovell from the Bryn Consortium on Monday evening outlining the trust’s involvement in the future running of the club. More details will be released over the coming weeks.


One of the immediate tasks which TUST will undertake is to organise working parties to help paint and renovate areas of Plainmoor during the summer and once the Consortium are the official owners.


We have had an amazing response to the request for volunteers with over 60 putting their names forward while two national companies are in discussions with us about donating paint and painting materials. The love for Torquay has been immense.


*****


In recent weeks TorquayTalk on X (formerly Twitter) has been asking about what changes fans would like to see under the new owners and these are just a few: a community engagement plan, regular open fan engagement, transparent, open and honest leadership, rebuild the youth academy, pay on the gate and owners who come to games.


Maybe you have your own suggestions? Send to: fanszone.tu@gmail.com


*****


Two other non-league clubs have announced new managers this week. Hampton & Richmond have moved coach Alan Julian up to be manager, while Richard Luffman has moved from a successful time at Cribbs FC to become the new Taunton boss.

Those of you who have Sky Sports+ will have virtually wall-to-wall football coverage this coming season under Sky’s £935million five year deal with the EFL.


For starters, every game of the opening weekend of the English Football League will be broadcast live including matches kicking-off at 3pm.


During the season Sky will broadcast 328 Championship matches, 248 from League One, 248 from League Two, all 15 play-offs, all 93 League Cup matches and all 127 EFL Trophy matches.


*****


The Football Governance Bill is progressing through Parliament at the moment and whilst there are many positive issues coming, including, of course, the introduction of an Independent Football Regulator, the FSA (Football Supporters’ Association) are lobbying for a number of amendments.


The FSA are asking supporters’ trusts around the country to speak to their MP about these. There are eleven in total including strengthening the duty not to re-locate a stadium without fan consultation.


*****


These are exciting times for our football club and we all owe the Bryn Consortium our grateful thanks for stepping in at such short notice when the original preferred bidders pulled out, the possible consequences of that do not bear thinking about.


The future of Torquay United is in safe hands.



COYY








 


SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY


 





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