Co-Chairmen SHARE THEIR PROGRAMME NOTES AHEAD OF TONIGHT’s clash with FARNBOROUGH…
Good evening, Gulls.
Sunday’s decision to part company with Paul Wotton has prompted a huge range of emotions across the fanbase — and we understand why.
Some of you feel real sadness, and even anger, because Paul’s time with us will always be associated with a remarkable revival of Torquay United. Others feel that, despite genuine gratitude for what he achieved, the time had come for a change to reignite our promotion push.
We want you to know we acknowledge both sides of that debate, and we respect the strength of feeling.
First and foremost: thank you, Paul.
When Paul walked into Plainmoor in the early summer of 2024, the club was emerging from an incredibly dark period. A football club is more than a league position — it’s people, livelihoods, a community asset — and at that point many of us were simply relieved to be here, still standing, still able to dream. Paul assembled a squad from scratch, set standards, and gave us back a team we could believe in.
Last season, we didn’t just compete — we over-achieved against the plan, and we came within touching distance of the title in a campaign most of us will remember for years. That doesn’t get forgotten because a difficult run has followed.
At the same time, we must be honest about why we acted.
This season is about progression, and promotion is firmly the goal – not just from a sporting standpoint, but because it sits at the heart of the wider growth plan for Torquay United.
Over the past four weeks, we have been deeply concerned by performances – and yes, by results. One point from fifteen is not promotion form. We felt a change was required, and we wanted to act quickly and decisively to change the dynamic while the season still has everything to play for.
We know some of you will say: “We were right in the mix; was this the right moment?” Others will say: “Leaving it longer would have been the bigger risk.” The truth is that in football — as in every walk of life — there is always risk. Time will ultimately judge this decision. But we want you to understand the mindset behind it: we are here to lead, to take responsibility, and not to shy away from the difficult calls when we believe the objective demands it.
Tonight is about the players — and about all of us pulling in the same direction again.
We owe a sincere thank you to Neil Warnock for stepping in at such short notice to take charge this evening. Whatever your view on events of the past 48 hours, we now have the same task: get our promotion campaign back on track. The shirt still means everything. The badge still unites us. And after the last month, we could all do with a lift.
So here’s our plea: get right behind the lads from the first whistle. Bring your energy. Bring your voice. Make Plainmoor what it can be on a night like this. Your support can be the difference between a team feeling the weight of recent weeks — and a team feeling ten feet tall.
Come on you Yellows !
Mark Bowes-Cavanagh, Michael Westcott and the Board
