Potential Buyers

[UnitedinDevon]

I would rarely agree with culmstockgull but the fact still remains that Osbourne purchased the club before it went into administration, so one can assume that the previous owner chose to sell it to him. There may have been insider assistance, there may have been other interested parties who could/would not compete with him and you may be privy to knowledge that you are unable to disclose (I guess that the laws of libel may be a factor) but none of that changes the situation. Whatever arises from administration now could have arisen five years ago if the club had gone into administration then, and concerns about relegation could have related to the Southern League or lower rather than the National League South. It is a long time since Torquay United were financially stable and Osbourne's tenure did not improve that but it did maintain football at a potentially higher level than might otherwise have been the case.
Incidentally, the list of the Administrators' past 'successes' bristles with EFL and Premier League clubs but also includes Scarborough FC whose fate since that balmy evening in May 1998 may be a worrying harbinger of what awaits TUFC.

The nonsense continues

Osbourne did not purchase the club at all

We defaulted on a loan - that he would have known we couldn't have paid back - with ownership as collateral

Lots of reasons why we were in that position in the first place....!

Can't even be bothered to respond to the deluded postings of culmstock

[knightmaregull]

So what if Osborne gave us an extra 5 years? It was and was always going to be, for nothing. If he did it with the sole intent of personal financial gain for him, his developer chums and board members then how can that be justified or given thanks for? We'd be 5 years further ahead from whatever fate now awaits us had he not got involved.

[Southampton Gull]

So what if Osborne gave us an extra 5 years? It was and was always going to be, for nothing. If he did it with the sole intent of personal financial gain for him, his developer chums and board members then how can that be justified or given thanks for? We'd be 5 years further ahead from whatever fate now awaits us had he not got involved.

That's it in a nutshell for me. That said, who knows where we'd be. I guess we're about to find out.

[BigDave]

The nonsense continues

Osbourne did not purchase the club at all

We defaulted on a loan - that he would have known we couldn't have paid back - with ownership as collateral

Lots of reasons why we were in that position in the first place....!

Can't even be bothered to respond to the deluded postings of culmstock

Presumably you split hairs as a profession. The point that you seem to miss is that Osbourne acquired the club - a defaulted loan is even worse than a purchase as the Club was obviously bust at the time. He could have gone into administration at any time so every game that Torquay have played since that date is surely a bonus - win, lose or draw - but maybe you don't see it like that. I suppose that you haven't been to any matches or seen any games since Osbourne made a loan that he knew would not be repaid because to do so would prevent you from admitting that the Club had not yet folded. Culmstock may sometimes be deluded in his postings but not on this occasion. TUFC have had a roller coaster ride for the last five years and Osbourne has played a part in that - accept it as such.

[SuperNickyWroe]

Presumably you split hairs as a profession. The point that you seem to miss is that Osbourne acquired the club - a defaulted loan is even worse than a purchase as the Club was obviously bust at the time. He could have gone into administration at any time so every game that Torquay have played since that date is surely a bonus - win, lose or draw - but maybe you don't see it like that. I suppose that you haven't been to any matches or seen any games since Osbourne made a loan that he knew would not be repaid because to do so would prevent you from admitting that the Club had not yet folded. Culmstock may sometimes be deluded in his postings but not on this occasion. TUFC have had a roller coaster ride for the last five years and Osbourne has played a part in that - accept it as such.

What you seem to forget is that Osborne saw an opportunity to to what he had done before several times.

[BigDave]

What you seem to forget is that Osborne saw an opportunity to to what he had done before several times.

That is irrelevant and a facile comment. Whatever Osbourne's motive was for loaning money and taking ownership rather than forcing administration, it does not negate the fact that the Football Club has continued to operate for a further five years or more. Hitler wasn't a very nice man who invaded countries, caused a World War and was responsible for millions of deaths but that doesn't obliterate the fact that there were some technological and economic developments in Germany whilst he was in power. Osbourne isn't in the same league as Adolf but whilst it is obvious that his ultimate ambition was not beneficial for TUFC in the long term, it should not be denied that there was a long delay of several years between acquisition and entering administration which was of short-term benefit to the Club. I have not forgotten the promotion and the play-offs (or, for that matter, the relegations) that occurred during Osbourne's tenure but none of those were predicated on his property development motives and none of those would have occurred if administration had happened in 2017 rather than now as the Club would not have survived in its present form.

[UnitedinDevon]

Presumably you split hairs as a profession. The point that you seem to miss is that Osbourne acquired the club - a defaulted loan is even worse than a purchase as the Club was obviously bust at the time. He could have gone into administration at any time so every game that Torquay have played since that date is surely a bonus - win, lose or draw - but maybe you don't see it like that. I suppose that you haven't been to any matches or seen any games since Osbourne made a loan that he knew would not be repaid because to do so would prevent you from admitting that the Club had not yet folded. Culmstock may sometimes be deluded in his postings but not on this occasion. TUFC have had a roller coaster ride for the last five years and Osbourne has played a part in that - accept it as such.

Laughable response

Huge difference in purchase and loan collateral

It's the same patter rolled out on other platforms like the Yellow Army Facebook group by the likes of that Horler bloke, we can all spot an Osbourne & Edwards supporter

I've been a season ticket holder for 15+ years so been to plenty enough games in recent times as wrong on that point as you are with your others

[UnitedinDevon]

That is irrelevant and a facile comment. Whatever Osbourne's motive was for loaning money and taking ownership rather than forcing administration, it does not negate the fact that the Football Club has continued to operate for a further five years or more. Hitler wasn't a very nice man who invaded countries, caused a World War and was responsible for millions of deaths but that doesn't obliterate the fact that there were some technological and economic developments in Germany whilst he was in power. Osbourne isn't in the same league as Adolf but whilst it is obvious that his ultimate ambition was not beneficial for TUFC in the long term, it should not be denied that there was a long delay of several years between acquisition and entering administration which was of short-term benefit to the Club. I have not forgotten the promotion and the play-offs (or, for that matter, the relegations) that occurred during Osbourne's tenure but none of those were predicated on his property development motives and none of those would have occurred if administration had happened in 2017 rather than now as the Club would not have survived in its present form.

People love to contrast against Hitler, truly bizarre and has no relevance to the current situation

BigDave scraping the barrel now

[dagglebert]

i'd just like to know what is hapening ! And be saved from endless reruns of the same old arguments.

[SuperNickyWroe]

That is irrelevant and a facile comment. Whatever Osbourne's motive was for loaning money and taking ownership rather than forcing administration, it does not negate the fact that the Football Club has continued to operate for a further five years or more. Hitler wasn't a very nice man who invaded countries, caused a World War and was responsible for millions of deaths but that doesn't obliterate the fact that there were some technological and economic developments in Germany whilst he was in power. Osbourne isn't in the same league as Adolf but whilst it is obvious that his ultimate ambition was not beneficial for TUFC in the long term, it should not be denied that there was a long delay of several years between acquisition and entering administration which was of short-term benefit to the Club. I have not forgotten the promotion and the play-offs (or, for that matter, the relegations) that occurred during Osbourne's tenure but none of those were predicated on his property development motives and none of those would have occurred if administration had happened in 2017 rather than now as the Club would not have survived in its present form.

I've heard it all now - Hitler and Osborne...
It was blatantly obvious what he was up to - have you forgotten his "new stadium?" A mock up of one already used!
If he was so keen for us to move to a new stadium, why didn't he just build one first?
Oh, hang on, he's never done that before, so why start now?
Have you not considered that after 5 yrs and his "5 year plan" when he finally realised that his £5m gamble wasn't going to work, that's when he decided to put the club into administration?

[Taelee73]

What's the point in going over the past, Osbourne has gone and yet we're still arguing about him. Whatever the reasons, and there are plenty, we've finally reached the point where we stand on the abyss.

This has been on the cards for years, probably decades, the Bristows bankrolled us, Osbourne has (in his own way). We've been spending more than we receive for decades. We've not made any money from player sales in years, we've been fortunate that we have a incredibly loyal fan base around the 1800 mark.

We're all entitled to opinions, but until we know who will own us, their plans and the division we'll be in, it's all speculation. If you can't influence what's actually happening, may as well just wait until something does.

No point in arguing about what's gone on before.

By the way, paragraphs people.

[SuperNickyWroe]

What's the point in going over the past, Osbourne has gone and yet we're still arguing about him. Whatever the reasons, and there are plenty, we've finally reached the point where we stand on the abyss.

This has been on the cards for years, probably decades, the Bristows bankrolled us, Osbourne has (in his own way). We've been spending more than we receive for decades. We've not made any money from player sales in years, we've been fortunate that we have a incredibly loyal fan base around the 1800 mark.

We're all entitled to opinions, but until we know who will own us, their plans and the division we'll be in, it's all speculation. If you can't influence what's actually happening, may as well just wait until something does.

No point in arguing about what's gone on before.

By the way, paragraphs people.

Jeez, it's the grammar police......
By the way, it's "Osborne."

[United62]

Jeez, it's the grammar police......
By the way, it's "Osborne."

I'm pretty sure it's ''Osborne".

[BigDave]

I've heard it all now - Hitler and Osborne...
It was blatantly obvious what he was up to - have you forgotten his "new stadium?" A mock up of one already used!
If he was so keen for us to move to a new stadium, why didn't he just build one first?
Oh, hang on, he's never done that before, so why start now?
Have you not considered that after 5 yrs and his "5 year plan" when he finally realised that his £5m gamble wasn't going to work, that's when he decided to put the club into administration?

Yes it was blatantly obvious but without his £5m gamble and 5 year plan it was even more blatantly obvious that TUFC would go into administration 5 years earlier: if you thought about it, even you and UnitedinDevon should be able to realise that. I am no apologist for Osborne but what you don't seem to be able to understand is that he was not responsible for the fact that he had an opportunity: the responsibility for that lies with the previous maladministration.
Why be concerned with motive when the reprieve is the important thing? Why don't you blame the Council for failing to keep him on the hook regarding his gamble for another few years? Who was at fault for Waters, Wright and Buse missing penalties in the play-off final that could have taken TUFC back to the EFL? Season ticket holders with 15+ years experience and an ego as big as their blinkers will doubtless blame Uncle Clark for that as well.
Many TUFC fans have delusions of grandeur which cloud their judgement but in nearly a century of playing in English national leagues the only title that Torquay United have won is the National League South in 2019 when Osborne was the chairman. I have followed TUFC for 40 years, during which time they have provided a great deal of excitement and entertainment, but the 'Yellow Army' can be very fickle if results are not what they desire and I can remember the Popside showing their disapproval of Mike Bateson. However, since he relinquished control the Club has been poorly run and in decline to the point that it may well soon cease to exist.

[SuperNickyWroe]

Yes it was blatantly obvious but without his £5m gamble and 5 year plan it was even more blatantly obvious that TUFC would go into administration 5 years earlier: if you thought about it, even you and UnitedinDevon should be able to realise that. I am no apologist for Osborne but what you don't seem to be able to understand is that he was not responsible for the fact that he had an opportunity: the responsibility for that lies with the previous maladministration.
Why be concerned with motive when the reprieve is the important thing? Why don't you blame the Council for failing to keep him on the hook regarding his gamble for another few years? Who was at fault for Waters, Wright and Buse missing penalties in the play-off final that could have taken TUFC back to the EFL? Season ticket holders with 15+ years experience and an ego as big as their blinkers will doubtless blame Uncle Clark for that as well.
Many TUFC fans have delusions of grandeur which cloud their judgement but in nearly a century of playing in English national leagues the only title that Torquay United have won is the National League South in 2019 when Osborne was the chairman. I have followed TUFC for 40 years, during which time they have provided a great deal of excitement and entertainment, but the 'Yellow Army' can be very fickle if results are not what they desire and I can remember the Popside showing their disapproval of Mike Bateson. However, since he relinquished control the Club has been poorly run and in decline to the point that it may well soon cease to exist.

Do you that as a fact??
Did you know that there were other potential new owners looking to buy the club instead of Osborne? But they were pushed aside??
It was the players "fault." They missed them.
Ever since that day Osborne took another route, for us to be where we are now.
Blame the council??
Well, that would have worked out well wouldn't it?
He'd have got the freehold and we wouldn't have a stadium, because he'd have never built one - just like for all the other sporting teams he's been involved with.