The close season transfer activity continues at Plainmoor after Martin Ling made a double swoop by bringing former loanee keeper Michael Poke back into the Torquay United fold and signing ex-Arsenal starlet Tom Cruise.
The pair bring the number of new additions for the Gulls to four, after securing the signatures of Ryan Jarvis and Craig Easton, but the number of departures from Plainmoor has increased to two after defender Mark Ellis joined newly promoted Crewe Alexandra for £80,000.
Over the years, the Gulls have seen many fine defenders turn out for them including Matt Elliott, Darren Moore, Garry Monk and Mike Williamson, all of whom have played in the Premiership.
Mark Ellis has added himself to that list with his showings over the last five years he has spent at Plainmoor, which started with a loan spell from Bolton Wanderers in 2007 before making the move permanent.
There is every chance that he could follow in the footsteps of the aforementioned quartet and go on to appear in the top-flight at some point in his career.
The fee received for Kingsbridge-born Ellis, brings the total monies received by Ling to £380,000, which also includes the fee paid by Peterborough United for Bobby Olejnik.
However, the blow of losing Olejnik, who was named in the PFA League Two team of the season and finished as runner-up in the club's Player of the Year poll, will no doubt be softened by the arrival of Poke, after he was released by Brighton and Hove Albion, who proved to be a popular figure during his three loan stints with Torquay between 2008 & 2010.
He was part of the Gulls side that beat Cambridge United in the Conference Play-Off final in 2009, a game which he played in whilst suffering from a broken jaw. In the Semi Final second leg against Histon prior to the final, Michael earned himself the Blue Square Save of the Season award with a miraculous save to deny the Stutes' skipper Mat Mitchell-King.
Young defender Tom Cruise arrives at Plainmoor with an excellent pedigree, having been capped by England at Youth level and made his Arsenal debut in a Champions League tie against Olympiakos.
He also has Football League experience from a loan spell with Carlisle United during the 2010-11 campaign and he will act as an understudy to Kevin Nicholson as well as providing cover for the centre back position.
