As he attempts to build a side capable of challenging for promotion ahead of the 2012-13 season, Torquay United manager Martin Ling has thus far looked to recruit players familiar to him and the club.
One of his first additions to his squad, after they missed out in the Play-Offs against Cheltenham Town, was secure the signature of on loan striker Ryan Jarvis, who also played under Ling at Leyton Orient, following his release by Walsall.
His quota of former Orient players was then increased to three, defender Brian Saah also served under Ling at the Matchroom Stadium, when he snapped up experienced midfielder Craig Easton after he had completed a successful trial at Plainmoor towards the end of last season.
Easton, 33, had started last season with Dunfermline in the Scottish Premier League and had been a key player in helping Ling achieve promotion with Leyton Orient in the 2005-06 season.
He also played an influential role in helping Orient pull off an FA Cup shock against Premiership side Fulham by scoring the opening goal in their 2-1 third round victory.
Following the departure of Bobby Olejnik to Peterborough United for £300,000, Ling looked to a player who had previously spent three loan spells with the Gulls in recent years in Michael Poke.
On securing a permanent return to Plainmoor, Poke will be playing alongside a number of his former team-mates in the shape of Lee Mansell, Kevin Nicholson, Eunan O'Kane and Martin Rice.
As well as this, he will also be working again with Goalkeeper coach, Kenny Veysey, who recommended him to Ling following his release from Brighton and Hove Albion.
At the same time as Poke's return, Ling made a name signing from Arsenal in the form of left back Tom Cruise, not the Hollywood actor but a left sided defender who had previously been understudy to Gael Clichy and Kieran Gibbs at the Emirates Stadium.
His most recent acquisition is a player whom Ling has known about for a long time, so long in fact he was aware of the talents of the player in question since he could first kick a football in the form of Billy Bodin.
Both Ling and his assistant Shaun Taylor played alongside Billy's father, Paul Bodin, during their playing days at Swindon Town.
After a successful loan spell earlier in the season which saw him score five goals in 18 appearances, Ling paid a fee in the region of £70,000 to the Robins, after Paolo Di Canio deemed him surplus to requirements at the County Ground, to bring him to Plainmoor.
So any success which the Gulls enjoy this season will highlight the value of stability, familarity and continuity.
