With 17 games to go in the 1992-93 season, Neil Warnock - who just 12 months earlier had been managing Notts County in the 'old' Division One - took charge of a relegation threatened Torquay United.
Warnock had previously been acting as a consultant to his predecessor Paul Compton, who reverted to his previous role as youth team coach, and was tasked with ensuring that the Gulls did not experience a second successive relegation, which would also have see them lose their league status.
However, Warnock managed to steer the Gulls to safety with one game to spare with a 1-0 win away at Carlisle United, which was secured thanks to a Duane Darby goal, that kept United clear of the trapdoor to the Conference.
The scenario that Warnock faced is similar to the current situation that Kevin Nicholson is facing now, as the Gulls aim to avoid another relegation - this time to National League South.
Before yesterday's clash with Boreham Wood, the Gulls had 17 games remaining in their league campaign and their 1-0 victory over the 20th placed 'The Wood', which was sealed by a 58th minute header from Nathan Blissett, moves United ten points adrift of safety with several games in hand that are becoming increasingly important.
The challenge now facing Nicholson and his Gulls is to repeat the feat on Tuesday against fellow strugglers Welling United. Whisper it quietly, but if United can win by three or more goals then they will move above them in the table.
If the Gulls can create a winning habit between now and the end of the campaign, it would see Nicholson join the list of Torquay United escape artists that includes, along with Warnock, Stuart Morgan, Colin Lee, Ian Atkins and Alan Knill.
Footnote: The Gulls penultimate league fixture of the campaign is against Barrow who, like Carlisle United, also hail from Cumbria and are managed by former United manager, and Nicholson's predecessor, Paul Cox who also played under Warnock at Notts County.
