A new era beckons for Torquay United this week following the news that Thea Bristow will be standing down as Chairman of the club.
Her and his late husband Paul's lottery win helped to fund the Gulls return to the Football League in 2009, two years after their relegation to the Conference, and she also helped to finance other projects such as Bristow's Bench and a new training ground.
Like the late Tony Boyce, whose sons Cris and Mark were part of the original consortium that took over in 2007, and Mike Bateson, who the current consortium purchased the club from in 2007, she was a director of the club before taking on the role of Chairman.
It was a role she first assumed in 2010, following the death of his husband Paul before she succeeded Simon Baker as Chairman in 2013.
However, her Chairmanship also coincided with a massive slump in the club's fortunes. During his brief reign, the club has had three managers (Martin Ling, Alan Knill and current incumbent Chris Hargreaves) and were relegated back down to the Conference.
Thea is currently being advised by former Oxford United Chairman Kelvin Thomas and is weighing up offers from potentially interested parties.
The new owners, whoever they may be, will be inheriting a debt free club after she agreed to write off the £3million she has invested in the Gulls.
