Torquay United Co-Chairmen Michael Westcott and Mark Bowes-Cavanagh will be hosting a special Chairmen’s Chat next week – and we want to hear directly from the Yellow Army.
This popular feature will give supporters an update on a wide range of club matters, on and off the pitch, and answer your questions as we approach the halfway point of the season.
Over the past few weeks, the club has carried out an operational reset. We know that some of these changes may have raised questions or concerns among supporters, and we want to give you the chance to ask about anything that’s on your mind.
We’re inviting supporters to send their questions to General Manager, Tim Herbert, via email at timh@torquayunited.com. Mark and Michael will then answer as many of those questions as possible during the Chairmen’s Chat.
Please submit your questions by 1pm on Monday (details below).
Why are changes being made?
Like many clubs, Torquay United is facing rising costs across football – energy bills, medical cover, insurances, national insurance and player wage inflation are all increasing significantly.
At the same time, the club has needed to invest heavily in essential stadium and infrastructure improvements after years of issues not being adequately addressed, and this vital work has also driven our costs up significantly.
As it stands, the club’s operating costs are north of £500,000 a year higher than our revenues. That’s not a position we can ignore if we want a strong future for Torquay United.
Everything we’re doing is about protecting the club and giving us the best possible chance to build a winning team on the pitch.
In response, we’re:
- Working to ensure we remain competitive and improve our performance on the pitch, by building a stable platform that supports the football side of the club.
- Taking sensible, careful steps to reduce costs and ensure we live within our means in a sustainable way.
- Improving efficiency behind the scenes and re-shaping roles within the club so we can bring in new skills and foster a new way of working.
- Strengthening the club’s commercial performance and driving up revenues from new income streams.
- Reducing our dependence on matchday income and building a genuine year-round business with new areas of activity.
Throughout this, the Bryn Consortium (Big in Business Ltd) remains fully committed to supporting the club. They will continue to provide the necessary funding to help Torquay United move towards a more sustainable future.
These changes are all about building a stable, ambitious Torquay United for the long term – a club which, working in partnership with the Torquay United Supporters Trust (TUST), our fans can be proud of season after season.
Send your questions to: timh@torquayunited.com
Deadline: 1pm on Monday, December 15th
We look forward to answering your questions – and to seeing you all back at Plainmoor for our Boxing Day fixture against Weston-super-Mare.
