TORQUAY United are today delighted to announce the appointment of Head Coach Gary Owers and Assistant Head Coach Martin Kuhl.
Geoff Harrop, General Manager said: “We were very pleased with both the quality and quantity of applications we received, providing the enviable but time-consuming position of real choice. Gary and Martin emerged as our choice from a very competent and experienced pool of applicants and we have spent the remaining time in detailed discussion with Gary, Martin and their respective clubs.
“It has been important for us to find the individuals who we think can adopt our plan for sustainable success and can bring the talent, experience and contacts that are key for a club wanting to climb and top the National League. These guys tick all the boxes for us.
“I want to pay credit to Robbie Herrera who has stepped up to the plate and worked relentlessly with a team debilitated by injuries, to turn our frightening start to the season. I am sure he has personally gained from the experience and has provided great service for the Club.
“I want to thank my colleague Dave Hedges for working closely with me and using his considerable contact base, and to the Chairman, for his encouragement and patience.
“Gary and Martin now need our support and a big welcome from the Yellow Army, which I am sure they will receive.”
Gary brings with him vast experience of the geographical benefits and hurdles of a football club based in the South-West, having spent three successful seasons as assistant manager at Plymouth Argyle, as well as managerial roles with Forest Green Rovers and, most recently, Bath City.
Gary was a regular first-team player with Sunderland, spending almost a decade with the Black Cats, where he played in the 1992 FA Cup Final, before moving on to spells with Bristol City and Notts County. His playing days ended with stints at Bath City and Forest Green Rovers.
Gary’s first step into management was a player-coach role at Bath City, then moving to Forest Green as boss in 2005. He joined Aldershot Town as assistant manager to Kevin Dillon and helped the Shots reach the League 2 Play-Offs.
He moved to Plymouth Argyle initially as a youth coach but then joined the John Sheridan management team at Home Park, playing a major role in helping to rebuild a team and club emerging from the shadows of administration.
Gary lived in Paignton during his time with the Pilgrims, so is familiar with the Bay, and worked as a first-team coach at Bristol City during their time in the Championship under the stewardship of current Aberdeen boss Derek McInness.
In the National League, he has worked as assistant manager at Gateshead, as well as holding recruitment positions for Motherwell and Partick Thistle in the Scottish Premier Division. He left Bath City this week to become Torquay United manager.
Assistant Head Coach Martin Kuhl is another with a glittering CV from his playing career, which began as a youngster at Birmingham City and included spells with Sheffield United, Portsmouth, Derby County and Bristol City.
His coaching career has been with Reading as under-23 manager over the past seven years, but he has also enjoyed spells as interim manager in the Premier League and Championship at the Madejski Stadium.
Martin has spent time with Aldershot Town and Wycombe Wanderers, where he helped the club achieve promotion to the Football League. He is now just a couple of weeks away from completing the prestigious UEFA Pro Licence and has been studying alongside the likes of Mikel Arteta, Freddie Ljungberg and Thierry Henry.