Neil Warnock has met a group of prospective bidders for Torquay United, and he describes them as “very level-headed”.
The seasoned former manager has talks with a group hoping to purchase the club. In 1993, as Torquay United’s manager, he kept the team safe from relegation to the Conference.
Owner Clarke Osborne announced last month that he would be appointing administrators because he was no longer able to fund the side.
Torquay, who is currently ranked 18th in the National League South, lost 10 points last week.
“They seem like very sensible people who understand what’s at stake,” Warnock said of the potential new owners to BBC Sport.
“Taking over a club that appears to be headed towards administration is challenging.
However, you have to start over and move on once more.
Over the years, I’ve witnessed a number of clubs fail. Hereford, for example, dropped a lot in the league before rising back and making a strong comeback.
Warnock, who says he has no plans to take on any kind of coaching role at the club, continued, “I just hope it can be sorted quickly and give the new people who do come in – whoever they are – the opportunity to make sure they stay in the league first and then move on.”
In a statement released on Thursday, Torquay stated that discussions were underway with several potential new owners.
“Preliminary discussions have commenced with interested parties concerning the structure and timing of arrangements which would bring about a change of ownership and stewardship of the club,” the statement continued.
The nature of these discussions keeps them private. Once a definite front-runner has been identified and matters are resolved, more information can be released.”
Warnock will be present for the “Devon Day” fixture, which takes place at home against Hampton and Richmond Borough on Saturday.
Because of the international break, Torquay fans are being urged to travel to Plainmoor to cheer on their team, Plymouth Argyle, as well as Exeter City.
When Warnock relocated to Torquay in February 1993, the team was on the verge of dropping out of the former Division Three.
They finished the season with 10 points from their final five games after he turned around the team’s performance, winning 1-0 at Carlisle United on the penultimate day of the season. That summer, he left for his first stint at Huddersfield Town.
In his career, Warnock has managed 12 more clubs, the most recent of which was a brief stint at Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership, which came to an end earlier this month.
In recent years, he has prevented Rotherham United and Huddersfield Town from being relegated to League One and guided teams like Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield United, and Cardiff City to promotion to the Premier League.
Regarding his brief stay at Plainmoor, Warnock remarked, “We just enjoyed the whole club.”
“They were great guys, they gave me everything, and I still get shivers thinking about the game at Carlisle in the penultimate round where we were safe.
“I have happy memories really and so to be able to help out in any way, I will do.”
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