It surely wasn't supposed to end like this for Torquay United and Alan Knill.
Cast your minds back to April 27th 2013, when the Gulls secured their League Two status with a 3-3 draw with Bristol Rovers, there seemed to be little doubt in the minds of the Plainmoor faithful that Knill- who had been brought in to replace the ill Martin Ling on an interim basis-was the right man to take the club forward.
However, after picking up one point from their last three matches, which included back-to-back local derby defeats at the hands of Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle-leaving the Gulls in the relegation zone; the board have decided that now was time to act and dispense with the services of former Rotherham, Bury and Scunthorpe boss Knill.
In a statement issued on the club's website, the Torquay board thanked Knill for his efforts in keeping the Gulls in the Football League during the 2012-13 season-but also stated that the first half of the current campaign had not gone to plan.
Knill's reign in the Plainmoor hot seat lasted for 41 matches in all competitions, but only produced nine wins.
Many of the players that he enticed to Plainmoor during his now brief reign have proved to be decent acquisitions.
Winger Jordan Chapell- who made his loan move from Sheffield United permanent during the summer- is currently the Gulls' top scorer with five goals, defenders Krystian Pearce and Anthony O'Connor-who will be remaining with the Gulls for the remainder of the season on loan from Blackburn Rovers-have produced some fine displays in the centre of defence and Damien Mozika has added a different dimension to the midfield.
Nevertheless, there is one area where Torquay have struggled for much of the season, and that is in the front of goal.
The Gulls' highest scoring strikers this season have been Karl Hawley and loan signings Paul McCallum and John Marquis who have managed just three goals each, failing to fill the void left by the summer departures of Rene Howe and Ryan Jarvis, to Burton Albion and York City respectively, who scored 25 goals between them during the 2012-13 campaign.
Also, the loss of Chris Brass, Knill's assistant in both his previous managerial roles at Bury and Scunthorpe, following his return to Gigg Lane to work alongside his former Shakers team-mate David Flitcroft would have served to hinder his long-term plans for the Gulls.
Knill and Brass's working relationship differed to the way many managers and assistant managers work, as Knill did the bulk of the coaching whilst Brass looked after the organisational side of things.
When Brass departed Plainmoor, for what is now the second time in his career-he had a loan spell with Torquay during the 1994-95 season, youth team coach Geoff Harrop stepped into the breach and Harrop is set to take charge of the side for their next league fixture against Morecambe.
With the January transfer window already open, the need for a swift appointment is now an absolute necessity for the Gulls.
