In preparation for their first season in the Vanarama National League South, Torquay United have signed midfielder Bobson Bawling to their squad and have agreed new deals with striker Brett Williams and central defender Jakub Sokolik. We will now take a look at a number of players who could be of interest to Gulls manager Gary Owers.
Kurtis Guthrie: Released by Colchester United towards the end of the 2017-18 season, Kurtis Guthrie has previous experience of playing in the National League South with Bath City and Welling United - and also won promotion with the latter. Guthrie - a former trainee electrician whose sister Serena was part of the England Netball team that won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games - has also featured for Forest Green Rovers in the National League where he briefly formed a fairly successful partnership with Brett Williams towards the end of the 2015-16 campaign.
Imagine the damage he and Williams could do if they were to link up again at Plainmoor.
Callum Rose: Last season the Gulls went down the route of signing younger players on loan who were fresh out of Under-23/development who found the nitty gritty of National League difficult at times. However, Brixham-born former Plymouth Argyle defender Callum Rose who that may possibly not apply. As a regular in the Pilgrims' Carlsberg South West Peninsula League in the past few and with a loan spell at Dorchester Town in the Southern League Premier Division under his belt, the same could not be said of Rose.
He has also had a trial with Bolton Wanderers towards the end of last season, after being informed by Plymouth boss Derek Adams that his contract wouldn't be extended beyond the season just gone.
Charlie Clough: Should United not be able to agree a new deal with skipper Sean McGinty to stay at the Gulls, then Charlie Clough could make an excellent choice to replace the one-time Manchester United starlet. Clough, who was given a free transfer by Barnet following their relegation from League Two, has previous experience of appearing in the National League South with Dorchester Town and Sutton United before going on to play in the National League with Forest Green.
Bradley Ash: Bradley Ash was a goal scoring sensation in the National League South with Weston Super Mare as a teenager, which prompted Barnsley to splash the cash to bring him to Oakwell in 2016. However, he was released by the Tykes at the end of the 2017-18 campaign following their relegation back to League One - in which he had a season-long loan spell with Boreham Wood cut short due to injury. As a young, hungry with a point to prove could a move to Plainmoor for Ash be one that suits all parties?
James Bittner: With Vincent Dorel currently considering a new contract offer from the Gulls, former United keeper James Bittner could provide a possible alternative to the Frenchman. He has appeared at non-league level for Exeter City, Woking, Salisbury City, Hereford United and Forest Green, and played in the league for Plymouth Argyle (where he played under Gary Owers) and Newport County, who he was released by at the end of the previous season. He has also worked as a player-goalkeeper coach, so he could be the ideal mentor to a younger keeper.
