Torquay United Fans Forum

y Gloomy Gull » 2 minutes ago


Tarrboy1 wrote: ↑9 minutes ago
I'm surprised at the quickness of the departure as I thought GI would wait another couple of games.

Like many, I have the utmost respect for Kev given that he kept doing his job (and lots of stuff that wasn't his job) to the best of his ability in such trying circumstances. You have to commend the man on that front.

What you cant commend him for is the complete tactical naivety that we've had to endure for the last 2 seasons. Being out thought by (supposedly) lesser teams on a regular basis is what I have come to expect. Odd substitutions, strange formations and players being played out of position had become the norm. Its the right decision for me.

I've not lost sight of the bigger picture with the potential threat of GI & Plainmoor, but in my mind GI acting now to remove Kev (assuming he's not walked) is a positive step. You can argue that they are now running the club like a business, and 1200 odd fewer attending Tuesdays game than the first home game against Tranmere will have been a rude awakening for them - we play shite = significant drop in income. Getting rid of the cause of that loss of income is a sensible move from a business perspective. No emotion clouded their judgement in parting ways with an excellent former player and fantastic chap.

What will decide things for me as to GI's intentions, is who we now appoint. If its Harrop or Tully or Todd or some other inexperienced former player, that will sound massive alarm bells for the future of Plainmoor. If its someone thats going to cost a few quid, with experience and the know how of turning what is a pretty reasonable squad (admittedly with 3 or 4 duffers that shouldn't be here) at this level in to a winning team, then that will tell its own tale and i'll continue to remain cautiously optimistic.
Very balanced

Right decision, right time.

Sorry for Nicho the man not Nicho the manager.

Interesting view in Herald that this now gives 2 weeks of transfer window to bolster the squad. Not sure if GI are looking to put their hand in their pocket any further than the cost of exiting Nicho?

Kevin has done what he can above and beyond the call of duty because he is a great bloke and loves the club.Not many managers would do so much as he has.
However, it has been mentioned in quite a few posts about the teams main attacking tactic, .......which is to hoof it up the pitch. This works so poorly for us and watching any decent team, successful attacks are mostly built up from the back PASSING through to midfield, PASSING out to wing backs who make for the line, crosses, to head or feet... then goals!!!! or from midfield, strikers running on to route 1 balls.
My concern is that Kevin, as our left back over the years, was forever hoofing the ball from defence. When under pressure it was his first/main option. Now he was great at throw ins and dead ball kicks and was also reasonable until of late (age slows us all down) at defending and I know loved playing for our club but I begin to feel what hope have we for passing/building attacks when it was the managers preferred option to hoof when moving out with the ball from defence.

Perhaps he does need some expert help on better tatics but I do not know if Harrop is the right man.

I will say again, I have the greatest respect for his commitment to the club and the amount of work and roles he puts in.

Kevin has done what he can above and beyond the call of duty because he is a great bloke and loves the club.Not many managers would do so much as he has.
However, it has been mentioned in quite a few posts about the teams main attacking tactic, .......which is to hoof it up the pitch. This works so poorly for us and watching any decent team, successful attacks are mostly built up from the back PASSING through to midfield, PASSING out to wing backs who make for the line, crosses, to head or feet... then goals!!!! or from midfield, strikers running on to route 1 balls.
My concern is that Kevin, as our left back over the years, was forever hoofing the ball from defence. When under pressure it was his first/main option. Now he was great at throw ins and dead ball kicks and was also reasonable until of late (age slows us all down) at defending and I know loved playing for our club but I begin to feel what hope have we for passing/building attacks when it was the managers preferred option to hoof when moving out with the ball from defence.

Perhaps he does need some expert help on better tatics but I do not know if Harrop is the right man.

I will say again, I have the greatest respect for his commitment to the club and the amount of work and roles he puts in.

Posted by Gloomygull
It is not a case of "being bothered", but before I add my support to something like this I need someone to please explain, (without hysterical rhetoric about how GI are only asset strippers and have left other sports clubs in the wilderness etc.etc.etc,) how looking to either block GI or force a change of direction from completing their business plan will secure the FUTURE of Torquay United football.

If GI, who are business men first, can only see resistance to any change and indeed their ownership of the football business - with their first real experience of their new customers being a concerted effort to block their preferred way forward for their new business, would they:

a) Even consider providing any further financial support to the football club ?
b) Consider that the fans, who form a high percentage of their future customer base, are the sort of customers they would want to do ongoing business with ?
c) Take the view that the initial investment has gone bad and just leave it to wither and die on the vine, accepting that will result in a loss to their business ?

Now ..... Let's assume that the petition is successful and it is the day after the decision has been made by the council and any purchase of Plainmoor has been refused and GI have chosen to turn their back on their investment. What are the immediate actions/plans for a secure future for TUFC.

- GI immediately call in the loan to Riviera.
- The first steps to a members voluntary liquidation are taken by the shareholders of Riviera.
- The Council do not receive any rent payments - how long are they prepared to allow the ground to be used rent free?
- The TUST call on the fans to funds the take over of the company.
- TUST are successful in raising enough to buy TUFC from GI/Liquidator.
- TUST now have full day to day control of TUFC.

Hurrah!! I hear so many saying -"we are saved", "the ground is safe", "those asset strippers have been defeated" , "err.....who is going to run the business on a day to day basis?" "how are we going to fund the ongoing running costs for the next x number of years?"

This is a doomsday scenario and exaggerated, but I have yet to read a credible future plan, if sufficient funds could be raised to buy the ground, to maintain a functioning football club business.

Before I get the inevitable slating for "not caring" I have supported this club for over 40 years and have no wish to watch it disappear down the toilet, but there has to be a plan to keep the club alive for more than the immediate future.

I am not convinced that the GI model will be successful and am not suggesting that I support their intentions, but who amongst the Plainmoor Defence Unit have considered the financial implications of owning the club? We have seen the folly of saving the club from Admin without a credible tested financial plan for the long term - i.e. longer than the next season.

forevertufc wrote:
There isn't any evidence to suggest the new owners are going to 'dispose' of our club. no body is Like Edmund falling for the Turkish Delight in Narnia, and to honest here its getting BEYOND boring constantly having to post, post, post and re-post, we ALL know the reputation of G.I, peoples concerns are justified. All some are saying is give them a chance.

Those who top coin a phrase posted by someone else, who've allowed them selves to be swept away on this wave of hysteria, are driving themselves at 100MPH straight into a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Three months down the line when there's 800 in the ground, and 1200 staying away or protesting, what does anyone think the next action of our new owners will be ? No, no, no they wont say, ok, you fans really do care about your club, so we're going to guarantee the future of Plainmoor and here's £10 million investment into the club.

What they'll do, is what any hardened business would do, except they'd made a bad business decision, recoup as much of their losses, write of the rest, cut and run. Then us fans really will have been proved right by our own actions, principles never put food on the table, it's beyond me how anyone can not see how withdrawing your support is futile and lead to one ending.

postby forevertufc »

Not denying anyone's right to an opinion, or right to protest, make a decision an Individual wants to make, however, if we decide to protest, who are we protesting against ?, what are we protesting for ?

As for people still protesting against G.I for not turning up to their own press conference, come on, thought we'd sorted that one, Monday G.I didn't at that point own the club, so had no choice but delay such a press conference, they can't turn up on Monday to talk about something they don't own.

As of yet, G.I not told any proven lies, so again what are we protesting against, they've as of yet have done nothing to damage our club, so again what are we protesting about.

The very fact G.I are talking about installing local people, which may turn out to be people us fans know and trust, that can't be a bad thing, surely ? I agree with the sentiment expressed by some others, yes we all know their reputation, so be cautious, be vigilant, but our new owners deserve a chance to prove themselves, and building up trust is a two way thing.

So get down to the ground Monday, and show our new owners just how much we do care about our club, stay away, protesting does not prove that one bit.