Are We Now The Fashionable Club?

I think its fair to say that we are probably perceived as a more attractive proposition than we have been for many long years.

Unfortunately while our location can be seen as attractive to some, I would have to say that for the vast majority of pros we are seen as being a bit out on a limb and for that reason many would never consider joining us. Paul Buckle has said many times before in the past that it is always difficult getting players down here - simply because of where we are. He has often targeted players who are already in the area (Todd, Phillips, Rice, Adams, Hodges) as this avoids the need for relocation fees and I don't doubt there may be one or two more locally based players who we target this summer too.

What has changed though is the perception of how the club is seen by others and particularly by players. In this day and age, it is even more true that players from other clubs communicate with each other - so they will know the massive turnaround in our fortunes over the last two years and more (given that the club had undoubtedly become run down under Mike Bateson in his latter years at the helm) and they will know that we are now a very well run professional outfit.

What has also become an even more important factor in recent times is the stability of the club. With the news today that Bournemouth players only got paid 60% of their wages last month and are unlikely to receive any wages at all for the month of May unless the PFA bail them out (again!) and similar stories further along the South Coast at both Southampton and Weymouth earlier in the season - it has surely become more and more important an issue for a pro footballer in choosing his next club is as to how well is the club actually run?

I also think that Paul Buckle has a lot to do with how our club is portrayed in a much more professional way than it has been for many a year. I am sure he can be a very persuasive and determined negotiator - with all the attributes he had as a dogged midfielder being carried forward into his time in management. He also comes across as very ambitous and I think the club is gradually being thought of in the same way too.

Of course there will always be some that say that the only reason we are seen as being more attractive these days is purely down to the wages we pay, and in part that may be the case. I certainly think that Colin Lee, who I believe plays an important part in sorting out player budgets and contracts, has a good handle on what a players worth is, and what the going rate is.

Unfortunately it was all too often the case, particularly in the Bateson/Rosenior days that we were always looking for that "rough diamond" which simply meant someone with talent who was prepared to play for (relative) peanuts and who might just have sufficient ability to become a half decent player given the chance and the opportunity to play under a decent coach.

I don't doubt that the consortium have backed Paul Buckle to the hilt over the last couple of years and hopefully that will continue to be the case for may years to come, provided of course that the backing they provide is both sensible and prudent, which given the make up of the men responsible for the decision making at our club I am sure will always be the case.

Strange though it may seem to say it, but I also think our media exposure over the last couple of seasons, through both Setanta and the Non League Paper, together with a couple of decent cup runs and the Play Off win at Wembley, have given our profile in the game a much needed shot in the arm too. There was the feeling among many that when we dropped out of the Football League two years ago that we would simply be forgotten about as we dropped into the abyss! However, how wrong we all were, I never thought I would say it but looking back (and how great it feels to say that) I have actually thoroughly enjoyed our brief (thankfully) sojourn into the Non League ranks - well all apart from a couple of weeks at the end of last season anyway!

I certainly believe that TUFC is a pretty good place to be at the moment, for players, staff and fans alike, and hopefully we will see this borne out in the calibre of player that Bucks' brings to the club in the summer, building on what he has already achieved in the last two years.

Exactly. On my mythical State of Torquay United Index - which measures things on the pitch, behind the scenes and in the mind - I can report trading is as brisk as it has been for many years. We're on the up.

I'd imagine a possible move to Torquay is - under normal circumstances - a 50/50 in many players' minds for the reasons that have already been expressed so eloquently. I'd contend the current set-up is doing its best to make that a 60/40 (or better) after years of the proverbial bargepole getting in the way.



And it was in such a piggin' mess that Chris Roberts was a charlatan waiting to happen.



As paid tribute to by Frank O'Farrell at the Legends evening.



At the risk of being labelled a "Merse groupie" - that made me smile Dave Shaw (but bloody hell, man, don't encourage the old bugger with his lurid tales that masterfully link Hayes & Yeading and Indian love nests in one fell swoop. Did anyone else notice that?) - I'll just say "'Nuff said".

Maybe a lack of finance was an obstacle to establishing ..... would be a fairer comment.

If you look at the latest accounts you will see a further £492k of share capital pumped into the club in 2007/08 plus a note that a further loan of £370k has been made between the end of last season and the accounts being signed off in January.

Unfortunately, the consortium inherited a debt with the club due to the Roberts debacle from the relegation season and I remember reading that the debt of £400000ish was converted into shares i.e paid off by some of or all of the consortium and their individual stakes in the club re-proportioned accordingly.

The actual first season in charge of the club resulted in a small profit ( Thanks to the cup runs in the FA cup and trophy including some TV money along the way) and did not need any investment to achieve this. Unfortunately the dreadful drop off in attendances this season obviously resulted in the club again losing money, hence the loan. (which Alex Rowe was quoted as saying the consortium was comfortable with) However, the FA Cup run and play offs will hopefully have mitigated this loss somewhat.

I suppose the conclusion from the above is that you have got to speculate to accumulate and there is no reason as to why the books can't be balanced over the medium term but someone (the consortium) needs to stand any losses that inevitably will occur from time to time to avoid the red zone.

The club is in a relatively strong position with no debt to service in these difficult times and if supporters, local business and sponsors pull their weight then there is no reason as to why we, as the club, can't punch above our weight.

I fully agree with the above posts. I never really subscribed to MB's whine that it was difficult to attract players down here due to location. It was due to us being seen as a bit of a joke, paying peanuts and getting monkeys. That's a bit harsh on some of the gems we did have here but generalising.

The Board and Colin Lee have changed all that. PB has had the tools to do the job and been professional in his approach and very hardworking. Probably the first time a manager has had this luxury. "Selling" TUFC must be quite a bit easier now than in the past. Given our stabililty in both a financial sense and behind the scenes should be a big plus in the equation for a player deciding whether to move down here. No wonder agents are on the phone, we are one of the few clubs at this level who can assure the player he'll get paid.

Without raising my expectations too high, i think we could be surprised with the calibre of signing we can make. So, it's down to PB to get it done.

Jon - obviously a man with his hand firmly on the balance sheet. Agree with your above remarks 100%.

Didn't know about the £200,000 in cash floating around (flash or what!) but would only take about 15 games with a thousand less supporters attending to eat that up by early October. (Are you sure that wasn't ear marked for the co-incidental similar amount needed for the refurbishment works?) In respect of the loan, that may or may not have been totally required as cash flow improved during the second half of the season.

However, what it does prove is how essential the off the pitch activities are in influencing the on the pitch game

How to achieve that tho merse is the question. You can't force people to come. The vibe at the club is a positive and professional one. The board have to come up with imaginative marketing strategies to encourage attendance ( i don't have the answers unfortunately). However this has to start with the "product". The teams success is vital to putting bums on seats. So, can we afford a period of consolidation or should we be going straight for the promised land of promotion? Hmmm, difficult one to answer.

Maybe a campaign aimed at the Prem club supporters of the bay. Encourage them to come and see "live" football and all that entails. Have the Gulls as their 2nd team to support.

What about investigating a change in kick off times? We used to ko at 7.30 on a saturday night. The football playing people of the bay could then make it. Sunday KO's? Friday night? Other teams have tried this.

It's a difficult task but one i think has to be attempted.