The summer exodus from Plainmoor continues after Torquay United terminated the contract of midfield playmaker Nathan Craig by mutual consent.
Craig, 22, a former Wales Under-21 international had previously been transfer listed by manager Chris Hargreaves, along with winger Jordan Chapell, after expressing a desire to return home to his native North Wales.
However, after making 47 appearances and scoring once- against Gillingham, directly from a corner- since arriving at Plainmoor in 2012, Craig had failed to hold down a regular first team spot whilst with United.
After starting his career with Everton, where he was selected for a Europa League game by David Moyes against BATE Borisov in the 2009-10 campaign, Craig joined the Gulls from his home town club Caernarfon Town in January 2012, following a successful trial spell.
It was hoped that he might have followed the same path as Eunan O'Kane, who had established himself as a first team regular with the Gulls- after joining from his local side in Ireland, Coleraine-before going on to join AFC Bournemouth for a fee of £175,000 in the summer of 2012.
Despite establishing himself briefly as a regular under Martin Ling, Craig fell out of favour following the arrival of Alan Knill and was unable to regain his place in the Gulls' side after the appointment of Hargreaves.
Parallels could be drawn with Mick O'Brien, a player who won an FA Youth Cup winners' medal with Everton in 1998 before joining the Gulls under Wes Saunders in 1999. He shone for a brief time at Plainmoor before falling out of favour and was eventually released by Roy McFarland.
Back to the present day, and the roster of transfer listed players at Plainmoor now stands at seven; Aaron Downes, Dale Tonge, Shaun Cooper, Ben Harding, Jordan Chapell, Karl Hawley and Elliot Benyon with Michael Poke, Martin Rice, Lee Mansell and Damon Lathrope currently considering new offers.
