SHARING FACILITIES

Torquay United have opened talks with Plymouth Argyle regarding sharing their training facilities at Seale Hayne.

Following the decision to axe their youth academy, the Gulls no longer require some of their training ground and other facilities, which could be of use to the Pilgrims.

Such an agreement would allow United to stay at Seale Hayne, after the previous consortium had spent a significant sum - believed to be in the region of £200,000 on levelling a large area of the ground, improving drainage and other facilities such as changing rooms, offices, medical rooms and a gymnasium.

This week also saw manager Paul Cox bring in John Ramshaw as his assistant manager; Ramshaw has previously worked with Cox at both Mansfield Town and Eastwood Town and Cox also served under him as a player-coach at Leek Town.

Cox is also hoping to make a number of new signings before the end of the week, when the National League fixture list for the 2015-16 campaign is unveiled. One of them could well be an experienced goalkeeper to help mentor young Dan Lavercombe that Cox has previously hinted about at his first Fans Forum last week.

SUMMER TRANSFER ROUND-UP 2015 #1

Within his first week of taking over as Torquay United manager, Paul Cox has already made his first two new signings.

Former Oxford United starlet Marsh, 21, scored ten goals in 20 appearances during a loan spell with Welling United last season in the Conference before signing permanently for Ebbsfleet United.

Marsh's arrival was quickly followed by that of James Hurst, a former England Under-20 international - who started his career with Portsmouth before enjoying spells with a number of clubs, including West Bromwich Albion and Crawley Town.

Hurst, 23, has also had a spell playing Iceland and joins from Director of Football Dean Edwards' former club Hednesford Town for an undisclosed fee.

Meanwhile, Plymouth Argyle manager Derek Adams has also made his first signing as Pilgrims' boss by bringing left-back Gary Sawyer back to Home Park after an absence of five years.

Sawyer originally left Home Park in 2010, after making 106 appearances over four years, when he was released by Paul Mariner and had previously had a four-year spell with Leyton Orient that came to an end when he left the Matchroom Stadium at the end of last season.

Former Argyle manager Paul Sturrock has made the highest number of new additions this summer, by bringing six new faces to Huish Park.

These include Ben Tozer and Marc Laird, who both appeared for Sturrock for two of his previous clubs - Swindon Town and Southend United.

Winger Matty Dolan returns to the Glovers for a second spell, following his release by Bradford City and Jack Compton - son of former Torquay United defender Paul Compton - returns to the South West after joining from Hartlepool United.

Striker Sean Jeffers also joins from Newport County as well as Jordan Gibbons and Omar Sowumni, who were previously with QPR and Ipswich Town.

After working under a transfer embargo last summer, Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale has been busy in terms of recruitment. Tisdale was only able to make two signings before the start of last season; but he has surpassed that total so far, bringing in three new additions, which includes the permanent acquisition of loanee Lee Holmes, former Torquay United goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik and former Brentford midfielder Manny Oyeleke.

A FEW FACTS ABOUT PAUL COX

Here are a few facts about the new Torquay United manager Paul Cox.

• Born in Nottingham in 1972, Cox started his career at Notts County in 1991 and was given his professional debut by former Gulls' caretaker manager Neil Warnock in the 1991-92 season against Manchester City.

• After playing over 40 matches for the Magpies, Cox left Meadow Lane at the end of the 1994-95 season, when he embarked on the first of two spells with Kettering Town and also appeared for Halifax Town and Hucknall Town.

• Cox embarked on his coaching career in 2003, when he became assistant manager at Eastwood Town and became manager two years later in 2005.

• On taking charge of the Badgers, Cox led the Badgers to two consecutive promotions - in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons - which saw them rise from the Northern Premier League Division One to Conference North.

• After establishing Eastwood in Conference North, he became manager of Mansfield Town in 2011 and - two years later - he guided the Stags to the Conference Premier title in the 2012-13 season.

• As a reward for Mansfield beating Barrow 8-1 in February 2013 - thus bettering their 7-0 victory in the reverse fixture - Stags' Chairman John Radford gave Cox his Aston Martin as a reward.

• In 2014, he was in the opposition dugout to his predecessor as Gulls' manager - Chris Hargreaves - in the penultimate game of the 2013-14 season, which saw Torquay relegated to the Conference for the second time.

• He becomes the third manager to take charge of both Mansfield Town and Torquay United - Dave Smith and Keith Curle are the other two.

A SEA OF CHANGE AT PLAINMOOR

It is often said that a week is a long time in politics and it could also be said that that is also true in football.

In the past seven days, Torquay United now have a new chairman in the form of south Devon bookmaker David Phillips as well as a new chief executive and manager, as well as a newly appointed as director of football.

Steve Breed, who many fans are familiar with for running the Gulls' Travel Club and commentating for BBC Radio Devon, replaces Andrew Candy as the club's chief executive and former Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox has been appointed as United's new manager in succession to Chris Hargreaves, who is currently on gardening leave along with his backroom team of Lee Hodges and Kenny Veysey.

Former striker Dean Edwards - the only player in the Gulls' history to score twice at Wembley - becomes the club's Director of Football; Edwards - who previously served as the club's commercial manager - also becomes the first person to hold the position since Colin Lee did in 2007 before he later became Chief Executive.

The new board, which is headed by Phillips, is made up of a group of fans - all of whom have the club's best interests at heart.

Early on following their takeover being completed, they were forced into making a difficult decision early on - when it was announced that the club's youth academy would be axed due to lack of funds. When they were in the Football League, the Gulls received a level of funding from the league to help maintain their youth development. This has since diminished following United's relegation to the Conference

However, the Gulls are hoping to expand their Football in the Community scheme - headed by Paul Devlin - will compensate for the absence of the academy.

It has been suggested in some quarters that Torquay will not be able to re-open their youth scheme in better times, as it is the second time they have closed their youth policy down after former chairman Mike Bateson shut it down in 2004.

The current scheme has been open since in 2009, and has produced a number of players that have tasted first team football in recent times - including Dan Lavercombe and Levi Ives.

Whether that proves to be the case should United win promotion back to the Football League only time will tell, but in the short term a more innovative approach is what is required by the new owners in several areas of the club - not just with the youth set-up.

ADAMS'S ARRIVAL BOOSTS TARTAN PRESENCE SOUTH OF THE BORDER

As the tenth Scotsman to manage Plymouth Argyle, Derek Adams will be hoping to lead a revival in his country’s managerial fortunes.

It seemed like a strange thing to say as over the years the likes of Sir Matt Busby, Bill Shankly, Sir Alex Ferguson and George Graham have all made a big impact in English football, winning league titles and bringing success to the teams that they managed.

A number of other managers also followed in the footsteps, including the likes of David Moyes, George Burley, Alex McLeish and Paul Lambert.

However, the dismissal of Lambert as Aston Villa manager earlier in the year saw the number of Scotsmen working in the English Premiership fall to zero. Nevertheless, Norwich City’s promotion – under the guidance of Adams’ fellow countryman Alex Neil – will ensure that Scotland will be represented in managerial terms in the English top-flight next season.

Only three Scotsman are set to take charge of Championship sides next season; Dougie Freedman, Steve Clarke and Steve Evans at Nottingham Forest, Reading and Rotherham United respectively.

Meanwhile in League One, Gary Caldwell will be looking to revive the fortunes of Wigan Athletic, following their relegation from the Championship, and adopted Scot Graham Alexander will be starting his third full campaign in charge of Fleetwood Town.

His predecessor as manager of the Cod Army Mickey Mellon will be looking to help Shrewsbury Town consolidate their position in League One, after winning promotion last season.

Adams’ sole compatriot in League Two is also one of his predecessors as Pilgrims in the form of Paul Sturrock, who is now – of course – in charge of Yeovil Town.

Former Dundee United stalwart Sturrock led the Pilgrims to two promotions between 2000 and 2004 in his first spell in charge before he went on to manage Southampton, Sheffield Wednesday and Swindon Town.

Let’s not forget that David Moyes is currently managing Real Sociedad in La Liga and Alex McLeish is in charge of Belgian side Racing Genk.

Several of the other nine Scottish managers to have taken charge of Argyle – including Bob Jack, Jimmy Rae and Dave Smith as well as Sturrock – all won promotions at Home Park, and that is an achievement that Adams will be looking to emulate in the 2015-16 campaign.

WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME FOR HARGREAVES AT PLAINMOOR

On the face of it, Torquay United's appointment of Chris Hargreaves as manager looked like one that had the potential to be a success.

Since his two-and-a-half year playing spell at Plainmoor ended in January 2010 - during which time he captained the Gulls to promotion from the Conference in 2009 - Hargreaves had spent time coaching Exeter City Under-16's before moving on to join AFC Bournemouth as a development coach.

Later on he was promoted to the position of first team coach; this role saw him work under the Cherries' highly promising young manager Eddie Howe, and he held this position that he held prior to his arrival at Plainmoor as successor to Alan Knill.

Comparisons were made in some quarters to the appointment of Wes Saunders who, like Hargreaves, also captained the Gulls' to promotion - in 1991 against Blackpool.

However, whereas Saunders had spent the five years between his retirement as a player - between 1993 and 1998 - working for his family textile firm, Hargreaves had proactively been preparing himself for life in the dugout.

The Torquay United side that Hargreaves first took charge of was very different to the one that he had captained before his departure in January 2010. Upon his return, the Gulls were fighting for their Football League lives after the momentum created by their promotion back to the league in 2009 had mostly worn off.

Initially, at least, Hargreaves was able to make the kind of impact as a manager that he had as a player when he guided the Gulls to two wins in his first three games in charge: against AFC Wimbledon and Portsmouth - both of which were away from Plainmoor.

Then, sadly, things started to unravel for Hargreaves. What was supposed to be his first home match in charge against his former club Northampton Town - due to take place on January 18th 2014 - didn't happen until February 12th. 

This was due to it being postponed following torrential rain, which caused the Plainmoor pitch to become waterlogged as the club did not have adequate set of pitch covers.

It enabled the Cobblers, who were also battling against relegation to the Conference, to regroup.

At the time of their original fixture, Northampton were rooted to the bottom of the league and were under the caretaker managership of Andy King, following the sacking of Aidy Boothroyd.

However, by the time the two sides eventually met in February, the Cobblers had regrouped after the appointment of Chris Wilder, who drafted in Hargreaves' predecessor, Alan Knill, as his assistant.

In the event, Northampton won 2-1, which started the beginning of a slump that ultimately proved costly for the Gulls.

Next came the Joss Labadie biting incident when Torquay played Chesterfield at the B2net Stadium. Evidence emerged that Labadie, who rejoined the Gulls on a permanent basis - after briefly signing again on loan in January 2014, had bitten the Spireites' Ollie Banks.

As a punishment, Labadie received a fine and was banned for ten matches, thus depriving United of a major playing asset at a crucial time of the season.

In addition to this, the Gulls also found goals hard to come by. During the time between Hargreaves's appointment and the end of the 2013-14 season, United's top scorer was central defender and Player of the Year Krystian Pearce with a paltry three goals.

How different it might have been if the Gulls had been able to re-engage the services of striker John Marquis on loan from Millwall after the turn of the year.

During Marquis' six-match loan spell from the Lions, he scored three times in six appearances - during which time United only lost once, away at Scunthorpe United. This was their best run of form of the campaign.

Despite a late rally, which included wins over Bristol Rovers and Exeter City, the Gulls were relegated in their penultimate game of the campaign away at Mansfield Town, which they won 3-1. However, Northampton's victory over Dagenham & Redbridge on the same day sealed United's fate, as a second spell in the Conference beckoned for the Gulls.

Following the end of what was a disastrous campaign, Hargreaves set about rebuilding the Gulls' squad ahead of life in the Conference - as long serving stalwarts such as Lee Mansell and Kevin Nicholson left for pastures new.

Hargreaves also transfer listed a number of players already under contract, as their wages looked to be too high for a Conference budget.

In came a group of what seemed like younger, hungrier players such as Luke Young from Plymouth Argyle. The signing of Young proved to be quite a coup for the Gulls as many observers were highly surprised to see John Sheridan release the young midfielder who made over 100 appearances for the Pilgrims.

Young won the Gulls’ Player of the Year award for the 2014-15 season and has arguably proved to be Hargreaves’ best signing.

However, fiscal constraints also meant Hargreaves was forced to bring in players like Courtney Richards, who joined from Brighton and Hove Albion – but hadn’t played a senior game of competitive football, and Duane Ofori-Achaempong, a player who nobody had heard anything about since a spell as a youth team player at Southend United some five years earlier.

Although, nobody could fault the endeavour of these players, their lack of experience soon told. After making a promising start, the Gulls - who went on a six-match winning streak between August and September 2014 – which saw them mount what looked like a possible promotion challenge - eventually finished the season in a disappointing 13^th place.

Whilst an immediate return to the Football League was regarded as unlikely by all but the most optimistic of the Plainmoor faithful, a lower mid-table finish would have been regarded as an underachievement.

At different points of the season, he was forced to field a number of non-contract players. Players such as Durrell Berry, James McQuilkin, Olliver Guegen and Aaron Dawson all appeared on an expenses only basis at different stages of the season, as contracts carried over from the previous season gave Hargreaves little room to manoeuvre when it came to signing new players.

At one stage, he was fielding a starting eleven that was earning an average of £375 per week.

What had seemed like a fresh start was now starting to look like a false dawn, as United –despite winning at Barnet and Grimsby, and doing the double over Eastleigh – often came unstuck against lesser, less well-resourced opposition. AFC Telford and Braintree Town both did the double over the Gulls; Braintree’s twin success over the Gulls also included a 5-1 win at Plainmoor.

And it is a fresh start that the new consortium wish for, following the announcement that Hargreaves - who has both the Gulls' relegation from the Football League and their lowest ever league finish on his CV - has now been placed on gardening leave, along with his backroom staff.

Hopefully the coaching talents of Hargreaves, who recently took steps towards completing his UEFA Pro Licence, won’t be lost to the game. During his time at Exeter, he helped to bring through a number of young players, including current Swansea City and England Under-20 midfielder Matt Grimes.

Perhaps his greatest legacy to the Gulls might prove to be the fact that he blooded the likes of Levi Ives and Daniel Lavercombe, both of who could yet earn United some useful transfer fees in the future.

 

 

 

 

 

HARGREAVES PLACED ON GARDENING LEAVE

Following the news that the takeover of Torquay United by a consortium led by former striker Dean Edwards being agreed, manager Chris Hargreaves and his coaching staff have been placed on gardening leave.

After talks between the new group and Hargreaves and his backroom team, which includes his assistant Lee Hodges and goalkeeper coach Kenny Veysey, it was decided that they would be placed on gardening leave - after they failed to agree to a pay cut.

The full identity of Edwards's consortium is due to be made tomorrow and further announcements regarding the name of Hargreaves's replacement are expected to be made as well.

One of the first priorities of the new consortium will be to turn the Gulls into a more financially, efficient unit off the field. Therefore, it may not be a surprise if long-serving goalkeeper coach Veysey is replaced by an older goalkeeper - possibly one in their mid-to late thirties, who can also combine Veysey's old role with playing.

Another key decision will need to be made regarding the youth departments, which could well be scaled down.

A FEW FACTS ABOUT DEREK ADAMS

Derek Adams is expected to be named as Plymouth Argyle manager tomorrow, which will see him join a list of Scotsman to have managed the Pilgrims that includes Dave Smith, Paul Sturrock and Bobby Williamson.

He beat off competition from fellow contenders Nathan Jones, Graham Coughlan and Steve Lomas and I will now take a closer look at the man set to be unveiled as John Sheridan's successor.

• Born in Glasgow, 39 year-old Adams enjoyed a 17-year playing career that included two spells with both Aberdeen and Ross County, as well as spells with Burnley, Motherwell, Ayr United and Livingston.

• Football is very much in his blood, as his father, George Adams, also a footballer, was Sir Alex Ferguson's first ever signing as manager when he moved from East Stirlingshire from Alloa Athletic. Adams senior also worked as a youth coach at Aberdeen under Ferguson and was Director of Football at Ross County during Adams junior's time in charge.

• Adams made his name with Ross County, who he managed twice between 2007-2010 and 2011 to 2014, which came either side of a brief spell as assistant manager at Hibernian to Colin Calderwood.

• In his first spell in charge of the Staggies, he led them to the Scottish Second Division title in the 2007-08 season and later guided them to the 2010 Scottish Cup final, where they famously beat Celtic at the semi-final stage before losing to Dundee United at Hampden Park.

• On his return to the Highland outfit in 2011, Adams took the Staggies to new heights as they clinched the Scottish Division title in the 2011-12 season, a feat that saw Adams named as PFA Scotland Manager of the Year - at the expense of more illustrious candidates such as Celtic's Neil Lennon.

• Following 5th and 7th placed finishes in the Scottish Premier League in the 2012-13 and 2013-14 campaigns respectively, Adams was dismissed after a poor start to the 2014-15 season; news he received from his father, George, who was employed as Director of Football at the Global Energy Stadium. Adams senior also received his marching orders.

• A keen student of the game, Adams achieved his UEFA Pro Licence at the relatively tender age of 33, and he watched 80 matches in the first eight months following his dismissal from Ross County.

• During his managerial sabbatical - Adams also sought the advice of former Everton and Manchester United manager David Moyes, when he travelled to Spain to watch Moyes' current club Real Sociedad face Granada.

• Adams is also a teetotaller who refuses to swear or drink, and despite a high profile spat between himself and Terry Butcher - when the duo were managing Ross County and Inverness Caledonian Thistle- he admits the two of them get on very well, and the former England captain has even helped Adams with his CV. They will also be reacquainting themselves with one another on the touch line this season, as Butcher was recently appointed as manager of the Pilgrims' League Two rivals Newport County.

NEW ARGYLE BOSS MUST DECIDE TO STICK OR TWIST

One of the challenges facing the next Plymouth Argyle manager, currently believed to be the former Ross County manager Derek Adams, is whether to continue with the 3-5-2 system that served predecessor John Sheridan so well, or to switch to something different.

With three centre backs at the club of the quality of Curtis Nelson, Peter Hartley and Carl McHugh, playing three at the back made perfect sense for Sheridan. The trio helped to ensure that the Pilgrims kept one of the best defensive records in League Two with 22 clean sheets.

Nelson and McHugh are under contract for next season and, prior to Sheridan's departure, Argyle took up the option of an extra year on the contract of Hartley.

From a purely pragmatic point of view, it would seem sensible for the successor to former Republic of Ireland midfielder Sheridan to keep the shape of the team that he is set to inherit.

One area that will require the most immediate attention is the centre of midfield, following the release of Dominic Blizzard and Oliver Norburn, as well as the return of loan signing Bobby Reid to Bristol City.

There is also the futures of out-of-contract trio Anthony O'Connor, Tyler Harvey and James Bittner to resolve in addition to the above mentioned factors.

A replacement for striker Lewis Alessandra will also need to be sought, after the former Oldham and Morecambe striker agreed a deal to sign for Rochdale, who are managed by former Argyle defender Keith Hill, in a deal sees him return to his native North West.

ACCEPTANCE START OF NEW ERA FOR GULLS

News that the consortium aiming to buy Torquay United has assured the National League (formerly the Conference) that the Gulls will be able to fulfill their fixtures for next season will come as a massive relief for all United fans.

Concerns were raised that because of the time of the takeover talks, which came about after Truro City chairman Peter Masters renegeded on a previous deal with former Gulls Chairwoman Thea Bristow - and her advisor Kelvin Thomas, might raise concerns with the league board over United's financial viability ahead of the 2015-16 campaign.

The group, fronted by commercial manager Dean Edwards and including ten local businessmen, will now look to complete their takeover at the beginning of next week.

Once the deal has been completed, the Gulls can hopefully look forward to a brighter future, where the mistakes of the past can be learned from.

Under the previous consortium's ownership of the club, between 2007 and 2015 - during which time Torquay won promotion back to the Football League, the Gulls made losses of over £2million.

Although the increase in expenditure ultimately resulted in success, ie winning promotion from the Conference and reaching the Play-offs twice in 2011 and 2012, poor decisions in the sacking of managers Martin Ling and Alan Knill resulted in hefty pay-offs for both managers. Money that could of been directed at team building instead.

It could be the case in the future that a balance will need to be found between this approach, and the more frugal methods of former chairman Mike Bateson. Whilst being seen as a divisive figure to many, Bateson's approach ensured that the club often made a profit and the threat of Administration was always a distance one.

Despite this, the outgoing consortium still deserve a lot of credit for rebuilding the club following the destruction caused by a brief and disastrious reign of Chris Roberts, during his four-month tenure as chairman.

However, now all future energies of everyone concerned with the club should be generated towards another reconstruction process that is about to start.