With the appointment of the successor to Kevin Nicholson as Torquay United manager due to be announced soon, we will now look at some of the issues the new manager will face.
1. Injured players.
The Plainmoor injury list currently includes goalkeeper Ryan Clarke, club captain Josh Gowling and left-back Liam Davis - the latter hasn't even appeared in pre-season. They have since been joined by Damon Lathrope and Sam Chaney have since joined said list and reinforcements will be no doubt be required.
2. An injection of pace.
Aside from Ryan Higgins and Sam Chaney, no Torquay United player has shown any signs of what has become a vital ingredient in the modern game: pace. Jon-Paul Pittman hasn't shown the speed he displayed in pre-season, as he's been carrying a slight groin injury, and Jamie Reid has displayed glimpses at times, and the addition of quicker players could lead to an improvement in the Gulls' fortunes.
3. Non-contract players.
New Zealand international striker Rory Fallon and former Macclesfield and Barrow Andy Haworth are currently both at Plainmoor on non-contract terms. Fallon made his first start of the season in the Gulls' 4-1 loss to Woking on Bank Holiday Monday and Haworth made his debut as a substitute.
Decisions will need to be made on their respective futures, or whether the new manager wishes to have a closer look at them himself.
4. Improving the backline.
Whilst United have found the back of the net eight times in seven matches, giving them a goals to games ratio which slightly above one per game. However, after letting in 19 in the same timescale, including one goal scored by Solihull Moors keeper Nathan Vaughan directly from a goal kick, their goals conceded ratio stands at almost three per game. This is something that the new manager will need to rectify sharpish.
