prior to another deadline that could result in the club entering administration on Thursday.
The window of opportunity for prospective buyers of Torquay United to submit a bid closed at 5 p.m. on Tuesday. This deadline was extended to Thursday, after which the club might enter administration.
When the Gulls were soundly defeated 4-1 at Tonbridge Angels on Saturday, Torquay supporters were still in shock over the news that the National League had taken 10 points away from their National South total, effectively turning a play-off chase into a relegation battle.
After Tuesday’s 3-0 home loss to Taunton Town and the subsequent point deduction, that result put an end to one of the worst weeks in the club’s history. However, the club’s impending administration would be the greatest blow to date.
On Thursday, March 7, two weeks after he had resigned as chairman, pulled his finances, and declared his intention to place the club into administration, Clarke Osborne was given an extension of 10 working days to find a new buyer. The decision to take away those 10 points last week was unexpected because most people thought that would happen once the team went into administration. However, the violation of the league rule was caused by the “intent” of the club.
A statement read, “Therefore, Torquay United Football Club is now subject to an automatic ten points deduction which is applied with immediate effect in accordance with National League rule 13.A.1.”
The likelihood of the club entering administration would not be affected by a bid being submitted, nor even if one were accepted by Osborne. However, Nick Brodrick, chairman of Torquay United Supporters Trust (TUST), has stated that if a deal is reached, there may be an additional 10-working day extension.
In an interview with the Herald Express on Tuesday, Brodrick stated: “Today is a crucial day because anyone who is interested can submit a bid until 5 p.m. tonight. If they do and their offer is deemed credible, the next deadline is next Tuesday, March 26. Since this is a very important day, I imagine that a lot of frantic work is being done in different locations to put everything together in order to submit a bid.
The fact that this second 10-working-day deadline is approaching on Thursday raises another concern, though. Even though the club might go into administration, the courts might still decide to give it another chance.
Torquay dropped from 12th place in the National South table to 17th place when the league defeated them last Wednesday, taking 10 points away from them. They fell one more spot to eighteenth after the Saturday loss. They remained three points above the relegation zone, but Taunton and Truro City, the teams below them and in the buffer between them and the drop zone—who were supposed to play last night—had four and five games left to play.
Therefore, it is imperative that the Gulls get back on track this coming weekend when Hampton & Richmond Borough, who are currently in fourth place, visit Plainmoor on what has been dubbed Devon Day. Supporters of Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle are anticipated to pack the stadium in an act of Devonian solidarity.
But, Torquay’s next opponent, Yeovil Town, is away. If the players are to avoid the relegation zone, which would put them in serious danger of falling into the Southern League, they will need to perform far better than they did in their previous two games. For many fans, both new and old, that situation is simply unimaginable.
After meeting with the players on Monday, interim manager Aaron Downes stated, “There is a job to do and we can’t feel sorry for ourselves.”
“I have to make sure that the players understand what is going on,” stated Downes. It is my responsibility to report everything that occurs. I have to make sure the players’ mentalities are in check before the weekend, which I know they will be because they have been really, really accurate with us.
“I won’t try to shield them in the traditional sense; instead, I’ll try to inform them, act as a leader towards them, and serve as a sounding board for them. Come talk to me if they need help.”
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