Torquay United Fans Forum

wbw wrote: ↑03 Apr 2024, 19:01 Approx £500k to do it properly. Not a prayer at Plainmoor. I was referring to the earlier poster asking about Gloucester

If you do your homework and it's for the community it may be possible with grants. Even the premier league are funding them as here. We need people with a can do attitude at Torquay.

Last week saw the official opening of a new 3G pitch at Chichester City’s Oaklands Park, thanks to a £729,000 grant from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation.

In addition to the funding from the Foundation, the remaining project value was provided by £150k from the Premier League Stadium Fund via the Club Development Fund, £30k from Chichester City (CCFC) and £300k from Chichester District Council.

https://www.sussexfa.com/news/2024/feb/ ... ester-city

wbw wrote: ↑03 Apr 2024, 13:37 Interestingly, Mr Broderick tells the world that he is part of one consortium, despite having to have signed a confidentiality clause.
According to the local fish and chip holder, Mel Hayman leads another!!!! And tells us that there is a third.
Confidentiality my a**e.

Then I can't see the TUST bid being accepted.
https://www.devonlive.com/sport/footbal ... ek-9202414

desperado wrote: ↑03 Apr 2024, 11:17 Just reading about Gloucester Citys pitch
The top layer is actually grass though they call it 3G, huge strips of 15mm thick turf have been laid on 35mm of sand and rubber crumb with a shock pad layer underneath and it drains superbly. No idea what it cost , they say it's international standard but sounds a great compromise. Good idea for us. Get the council to pay for it and rent it out and give them a percentage of the takings ( if they insist !)

Is this what they call a hybrid pitch?

I never thought I'd say it, but with the wetter winters and no other pitches in the south west I think it may be the way to go for us. Anything that can generate new income needs looking at.

Taunton v Maidstone tonight. Pitch failed a morning inspection.
The league have ordered them to play it at Gloucester this evening.

Cinderford now also playing home fixtures at Gloucester as well. Must be quite lucrative having a plastic pitch?

Westcott expects Torquay to announce a preferred bidder by the end of the week, with that party then doing due diligence before a sale.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68713772

I'm not really sure how we should go? I'd prefer to stay full time. But If the TUST runs the club maybe we need to go part time. If we do, I hope we retain ambition to move back up the pyramid. I feel the reason we have lost so much money is because the club has been badly managed. Generous contracts being handed out to bang average players. Covid lack of income?

WSM have average attendances of 1200 and are part time. Yesterday they had quality former EFL players  Rueben Reid and Robbie Willmott playing.
We get twice their attendance so I see no reason why we couldn't attract the best part time players combined with a number of full time pros.I'm thinking the likes of Hall and Dawson could have been offered part time contracts.Maybe next season it could be considered? I assume you don't pay a part time player during the closed season?

We need a proven manager at this level with ambition.

standupsitdown wrote: ↑01 Apr 2024, 19:47 Interesting. If that form continues Dartford & Hemel go down.

We have now conceded 13 goals in the last 5 games. 2.6 goals per game. We are clearly getting worse.

I think we still could just scrap over the line. Pack the defence and midfield.

Dartford finished second last season. What happened?

Form
Eastbourne 14 points from last 10 games.
Havant 12 points from last 10 games
Torquay 10 points from last 10 games
Taunton 7 points from last 10 games
Dover 5 points from last 10 games.
Dartford 3 points from last 10 games.
Hemel 2 points from last 10 games.

Could go to the last game for us or we may just sneek home due to Tauntons heavy amount of fixtures and Hemels and Dartfords poor form.

Is there a link to the interview that was on 2pm Radio Devon today with TUST Chairman, Nick Brodrick, and lead investor Michael Westcott?

I would have thought it possible to have a mixture of full and part time players. The spine of the team and manager full time. Is this not possible? I would suggest the club has been badly run if the figures of £100k correct. There are other teams at this level doing fine on much lower gates than ours.

Does that mean it wont be on TV?

culmstockgull wrote: ↑28 Mar 2024, 14:42 Cannot link it for some reason but its an article on BBC sport concerning Torquay United dated the 8th march.

I think I found it?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68512186

The TUST said at that time that it was unlikely they would make a bid. I assume now that there are no other suitable bids and it's either us running it, or going bust and to start again lower down the leagues as a phoenix club? Maybe we only have those options? Maybe it would be best to start again at a lower level as we know nothing all about running a club? Mistakes at a lower level won't matter so much. Need more info.

culmstockgull wrote: ↑28 Mar 2024, 13:51
More inportantly a BBC news article dated the 8th March stated that a bidder(singular) had been identified who can deliver an exciting and deliverable solution to our troubles, as that quote came from the TUST I give it credence.

Can you point me in the direction of this article? Thanks.

Taunton Slough game off

Taunton are home to Slough tomorrow. Rain forecast most of the day and Bridgwater united women played on the pitch today. Madness. They are asking for trouble and it may cost them with relegation.