I started watching watching TQY during the 1979/80 season when that Turner, Murphy, Cooper, Lawrence team was at it's peak. As a child and being less cynical than I am now, it never occured to me that Torquay should change their manager. I just hoped and hoped that it would go well. It was the following season that I remember the slow hand-claps and the Pop Side shouting 'Green Out' that I remember finding this distressing and I felt so sorry for Green crumpled in the dug-out having to listen to it all.
It was only later that i realised that sometimes a manager is just either unlucky, crap, does not fit in and so needs to leave.
Sadly, especially under Bateson we suffered too many turkeys as managers. People like Compton, Saunders, Cornforth should never never have been anywhere near the managers job.
However, here is my quick overview of managers in charge since I have been watching.
Mike Green:
built that wonderful team that then collapsed to 9th place but for me I could never decry Green for the joy and fondness for which I remember that team.
Frank O'Farrell:
I thought as a 12 year-old his appointment would guarantee promotion. based on his previous record...but some years before, perhaps the directors did too but after 3 opening wins it becamse a montonous season and it was no loss when he retired.
Bruce Rioch:
I think most Torquay fans at the time recognised we had a potentially excellent manager on our hands. As a kid Bruce Rioch to me was like Roy Race. A World Cup captain and super player. I was devastated when he left and the circumstances which forced his resignation. Really sad but was delighted for him when he achieved so much later on.
Dave Webb:
I hated him from the very beginning. He was taking over from my hero and dismantled the team and filled it with Boiurnemouth rejects. The kit, the badge, the stand, the bottom place finishes. Hated him.
John Sims:
Sort of appointment that Bateson might have made. You see many clubs make appointments like this when a despot is in charge. It never works out. Probably stayed about 32 days too long.
Stuart Morgan:
So wanted it to work out for him. Nice bloke but ultimately I can remember thinking he needed to go. What Cyril then did with basically the same team bore that out.
Cyril Knowles:
A legend for me. He did not manage what two later managers did but I think after the misery of the previous few years that 1987/88 season was an absolute dream. To even be near promotion, yet alone nearly get it, plus beating Spurs and the FA Cup run and thrashing Coventry in a 0-2 defeat. Probably my favourite season ever, even though it ended so sadly.
Dave Smith:
I think Bateson probably wanted to make his mark. Smith should have been left alone to manage the team and it was really sad when he left.
John Impey:
First of Bateson's many cheap yes-men. Despite him getting us over the line for promotion, I never felt he was up to managing at the level (League 1) were acquired.
Wes Saunders:
He was caretaker for so long, that he can sort of be counted as a manager. Ridiculous decision. Surely it could not be repeated.
Ivan Golac:
On a hiding to nothing really. We were so far adrift that there was little he could do and then he quickly left.
Paul Compton:
I just never, could never, have never and will never understand this appointment. Utter stupidity and neglect of duty by Bateson. A disgraceful decision. I could never abide Compton.
Neil Warnock:
Though officially a consultant he was technically the manager. Brilliant. Would have loved it if he could have stayed but was never going to happen and I guess there would never have been room for his and Bateson's egos.
Don O'Riordan:
I liked Don O. Think he was shafted by Bateson really. Having to start that fateful 95/96 season with forwards like Byng and Laight, a team phot that only had 13 players including the physio and a departed Greg Goodridge. O'Riordan was a victim of his own success. That 94 play-off team was constructed on a shoestring so Bateson I think thought it could always be done that way. History will judge O'Riordan by that 1-8 defeat but it should not be so harsh. In fact Bateson himself says sacking Don O was his biggest regret of his time at Torquay.
Mick Buxton:
For one game in the cup v Orient. Probably the best manager we never had. Really hoped we would get him. At the same time gary Megson wanted the Torquay job. Instead we got...
Eddie May:
Just reminded me of Dave Webb. A cockney spiv and similarly awful.
Kevin Hodges:
Did a great job but again when only offered a one-year deal by Bateson, it did not surprise me that he accepted a 2-year one offered by Plymouth. Since leaving us, he has not done much and I really hope people are not serious in suggesting he could be a candidtae should Buckle leave.
Wes Saunders:
Why? Why did we even go there? Again! Only Torquay at that time with Bateson on his self-imposed 'gardening leave' and puppet Benney pretending to be in charge could we make this joke appointment. Saunders was cheerleading the fans at the start of the play-off final, with Helen Chamberlain. She could not have been a worse appointment. He was working in clothes factory and playing for a pub team when he got the Torquay job. Utter madness and predictably he was crap. Even worse was the knowledge that Micky Adams wanted the job. Nobody in their right mind would choose Saunders over Adams, excpet soemone who wanted a puppet in charge.
Colin Lee:
Saved us from Saunders shambles. What happened over that summer was a shambles too. I really hoped we would get him as he seemed forward thinking and ambitious. I guess that sort of attitude did not sit well with Bateson.
Roy McFarland:
Did a brilliant job really when you consider what he inherited and how little time he had to sign players and build a team. And what a team he left for us.
Leroy Rosenior:
I thought we had a manager who was going to manage at the top level during those first two years. Even the season we were relegated I could see was more down to budget than incompetence. But the lack of contacts, the whole living in Bristol thing complicated things. never understood the hostility some have towards the manager - one of only 3 - to lead us to automatic promotion but likewise I would not be one of those calling for him to return.
John Cornforth:
Utterly pointless, lazy, stupid appointment. Appoint someone like that and what do you expect. exactly what we got.
Ian Atkins:
Not everyone's cup of tea but I liked what he did for us. A miracle that he managed to save Bateson's bacon that season.
Lubrik whatever...cannot even remember his name:
Appointed Hancox as assistant because they 'hit it off looking around Torquay' apparantly. Was a puppet. Useless but felt sorry for him.
Keith Curle:
Was a harsh environment and set of circumstances to judge him on. But I wouldn't want him back.
Paul Buckle:
Has done very well for us. I worry that he is too abrasive at times and falls out with players but history has proved him to be correct on more occasions than not. Would not want to see him go.
