Torquay United’s co-chairs, Michael Wescott and Mark Bowes-Cavanagh, recently appeared on the Business of Sport podcast to provide an honest and open insight into how the Bryn Consortium came together, the challenges faced by both the consortium and the club during administration, and the financial situation inherited when the group took over in 2024.
Throughout the conversation, Michael and Mark discuss their plans to achieve financial stability, build trust with supporters, reconnect with the local community and their aims of helping Torquay United reach the Football League in the near future. The pair explore wider issues affecting football, including the protection of lower-league academies, the preservation of club heritage and the need for three promotion places from the National League.
Thank you to Charlie Stebbings for inviting the club’s co-chairs onto the podcast and we hope that United supporters enjoy the episode which can be accessed below.
Click the thumbnail below or follow this link to access the full episode on Youtube.
Business of Sport Episode Preview
“What happens when a football club goes into administration? It’s a fans worst nightmare. An owner who decides they can no longer fund the club and as a result the community asset that has been the bedrock of many people’s lives for over a century faces closure.
“That is exactly what happened with Torquay United. 125 years old with a long history of Football League participation could not protect them from financial disaster. Then came Michael Westcott, Mark Bowes-Cavanagh, and their consortium of Torquay fans, all business people who couldn’t let their club disappear.
“Having two people in the chair opposite was a welcome change, both with different skills and experiences but one ambition: to restore this football club to the EFL and bring the community pride back to the team. The business reality of getting that done is another thing entirely though. I love these stories; proper football conversations from the part of the pyramid that can often be overlooked. I’m delighted to welcome Michael & Mark to the Business of Sport.”
