In 2013, Alan Knill is facing the same challenge as Neil Warnock in 1993, Colin Lee in 2001 and Ian Atkins in 2006-the task of keeping Torquay United in the Football League.
After overseeing two defeats in his first two games in charge, a 1-0 loss against Port Vale and a 2-1 reverse at home to Wycombe Wanderers, Knill stopped the rot with a goalless draw at Accrington Stanley- the first point the Gulls have ever secured in the East Lancashire town.
One issue that Knill will be looking to address heading into Torquay’s remaining 11 matches is the Gulls’ lack of firepower in recent weeks.
Ryan Jarvis’ opener against Wycombe remains Torquay’s only goal of Knill’s reign as interim boss-as well as being only one of three goals scoring by the Gulls during the month of February.
Looking back at previous years when Torquay have pulled off great escapes, they have often conducted late transfer business, towards the end of the transfer deadline, to bring in players who would play a crucial role in helping the Gulls secure their Football League status.
When Colin Lee rescued Torquay in 2001, he snapped up David Graham towards the end of March and Graham went to score the Gulls’ decisive goal in their 3-2 final day win over Barnet, which secured Torquay’s survival at the expense of the Bees.
Fast forward to 2006 and Ian Atkins’ acquisition of Lee Thorpe and Danny Hollands played a key role in keeping the Gulls in League Two as they won four of their remaining five league games. This included a 4-0 home win over Stockport County and a 2-1 away win at Carlisle United.
If the Torquay United side of 2013 are going to stay afloat in npower League Two they will need to secure at least 12 points from their remaining 11 matches.
A lot of work has gone into ensuring that the club has progressed in the manner in which has done since the Gulls dropped out of the Football League in 2007, which helped Torquay retain their league status two years later.
This, in turn, provided a springboard for the Gulls to challenge for the Play-Offs in the seasons prior to the current one.
