Torquay United’s Board gave supporters a detailed update on the Club’s finances, attendances, football investment and plans for Plainmoor during Tuesday evening’s Fans Forum.
Co-Chairman Michael Westcott presented the Board update at The Cove before taking questions alongside fellow Co-Chairman Mark Bowes-Cavanagh and General Manager Tim Herbert.
The presentation sought to give supporters a transparent picture of the progress made since the Bryn Consortium took control of United in 2024, while also making clear that significant work remains to put the Club on a sustainable financial footing.
Among the headline figures presented were strong growth in attendances and revenue since the takeover, £1.68m budgeted across United’s football operation this season, supporter ownership through TUST, and a budgeted operating loss of approximately £366,000 for 2026/27.
The central message from the Board was that while the Club is growing, continuing to lose money cannot become normalised.
Supporter growth was one of the clearest areas of progress highlighted.
The Board outlined the significant increase in average league attendances since 2023/24, alongside growth in season-ticket income and wider engagement with supporters.
That growth is important not simply for atmosphere at Plainmoor but for the Club’s finances, with ticketing, food and drink and commercial income making up the majority of United’s revenue.
The Club’s base-case budget for 2026/27 assumes an average home league attendance of around 3,400. Westcott explained that any sustained attendance above that level would therefore provide upside to the budget.
The Board also explained what United’s football budget actually pays for beyond first-team player wages.
That includes management and coaching staff, player insurance, strength and conditioning, analysis and recruitment tools, nutrition, training facilities and travel, alongside investment in the Women’s team and Academy.
Westcott highlighted the expansion of Jimmy Ball’s backroom team, including additional strength and conditioning provision, as a deliberate investment following the injury problems which affected United last season.
He also pointed to greater use of analysis across recruitment, opposition preparation and performance.
The Board also highlighted the importance of the TUST Forever Yellow Fund, which gives supporters another direct way to help finance specific projects and areas of the Club.
Westcott said the initiative was an important part of the shareholder partnership between the Club and the Supporters’ Trust, allowing money raised by supporters to be directed towards clearly identified priorities rather than simply disappearing into the Club’s general operating budget.
The Board encouraged supporters to continue backing Forever Yellow, with funds raised helping TUST to support targeted investment in Torquay United while strengthening the role supporters play in the future of their Club.
One of the most significant updates concerned Plainmoor.
Supporters were told that discussions with Torbay Council are well advanced to reset the Club’s lease to 125 years.
Westcott said the longer lease would give United greater confidence to invest in the stadium and, importantly, strengthen the Club’s ability to secure grants and other external funding for future infrastructure projects.
He also explained that, should United progress through the football pyramid and crowds continue to grow, the longer-term question will be how the existing Plainmoor footprint can be developed to accommodate that growth.
Responding to a supporter question later in the evening, the Board confirmed it is also seeking to bring additional green space alongside the stadium into the lease footprint, with the longer-term ambition of creating a community and potentially revenue-generating asset.
Any development would need to take account of Plainmoor’s residential surroundings.
The Board was also clear that the budget does not assume income from a number of potential sources.
No player-transfer income or cup income is relied upon, while the 3,400 attendance assumption leaves potential upside if crowds outperform the base case. Additional sponsorship, commercial activity and events could also improve the financial result.
The principle, Westcott explained, is not to rely on uncertain income to make the budget work.
That means a successful FA Cup run, player trading or stronger-than-budgeted attendances would improve the position rather than being necessary to underpin it.
Supporters also questioned the Board about further improvements to Plainmoor.
Tim Herbert confirmed that the Club is looking at improvements to areas behind the VX3 Popside and Wollens Terrace, upgrading the PA system as well as opportunities to improve fan-zone provision and make those areas more attractive for home and visiting supporters.
The fan experience would remain central to that work.
Herbert also confirmed that following a stadium assessment, United are on the list for 100% funding for safety-related work around the pitch perimeter wall, with the Club awaiting details of how that national programme will be implemented.
The evening concluded with further questions from supporters on the Club’s plans and priorities.
The message from the Board was straightforward: United has grown significantly since the takeover, investment is continuing both on and off the pitch, but the job is far from complete.
The objective remains to build a Club capable of winning promotion without putting Torquay United’s long-term future at risk.
