Torquay United Fans Forum

Less VAT makes it £10 per head! Still great pre-season income though.

Whatever the average entrance cost per head, presumably VAT has to be paid to the exchequer? If that is the case then using £16 as suggested might be an average entrance fee then the club would only net £12.80 per head. I might be wrong on the VAT front but I’m guessing it’s payable on gate receipts?

Probably correct Nick. I had to leave at the start of stoppage time to get a train back into London in order to connect with my train back to East Sussex. There were a few other gulls fans on platforms when I boarded the train. Sorry GJ but we had to be sure of getting home!

“Only papers over the cracks” absolutely correct Nick. Living in East Sussex last night was the first chance I’ve had to see the team this season and I’m struggling to see how relegation can be avoided. In fairness without Halstead, Martin, Marshall, Hanson, Evans, Andrews and Wyatt my view could be unjustified. I’m sure GJ probably regrets his “marquee signings” statement earlier this year. I have no doubt that he and his team had identified players they wanted to replace the quality players lost after last season ended. It’s usually a case of identifying positions that need filling and then a list, in order of priority, for each. It seems clear to me that we failed to get any of the first choice targets and possibly second and third choices too. I’m also sure that budget restrictions were wholly the reason in much the same way as we could clearly not offer improved terms to keep some of the players we lost.

Looking ahead, as others have said, we need three or four new faces to plug evident weaknesses in the squad but I can only see those being funded by the departure of some players already on the books. That’s not easy when they have contracts in place. One thing I would like to see change is this fiasco event each pre-season where all new signings are announced on the same day. To me that only emphasises our failure to recruit desired targets.

Finally, back to last night, others have summed it up perfectly, including GJ in his post match interview. First half we were poor and deserved to go in a goal down. Second half looked little better until their keeper gifted us the chance to equalise. I don’t know if the rule that a ball played should roll the distance of its circumference before being played by another player still applies but the ball was just touched without barely moving before Moxey drove it home. Who cares! As for the sending off, that happened right in front of me and, in my view, was not a penalty but neither did I think it was a deliberate dive. The ref clearly felt otherwise and left himself no choice. However, that galvanised the team. Great header by Jarvis who for me, looks the one decent signing, fighting hard to compete for all the endless long ball stuff lumped up to him but equally showed good composure when the ball was played to his feet. I also cannot compliment the players enough for throwing themselves at everything in the last twenty to protect the lead. One comfort for me was Lovett’s performance which was outstanding. At least with Halstead’s apparent improved form this year we seem to have some quality in that position with Halstead and Lovett.

Bring on Derby and, hopefully, with it some TV revenue to help finance much needed strengthening. Well done to our fans last night, I was proud of the support you gave. It’s been a tough season so far but you guys gave it your all.