The timing of Torquay United's play-off final defeat to Hartlepool United at the end of the 2020-21 season left manager Gary Johnson with little time to rebuild ahead of the subsequent 2021-22 campaign.
However, as the Gulls knew
their fate much earlier this time around Johnson has had more time to get his recruitment done as the Gulls aim for another tilt at promotion from the National League.
With several players departing Plainmoor for the Football League, including Armani Little (Forest Green Rovers), Joe Lewis and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans (Stockport County) and Shaun MacDonald (Cheltenham Town), Johnson has looked to try and replace quality with quality.
Cardiff City loanee Kieron Evans and Brett McGavin, who arrives from Ipswich Town, will bring plenty of creativity to the Gulls midfield to compensate for the departures of Little and Lemonheigh-Evans. Johnson has also added Ross Marshall to his defence following Joe Lewis' move to Stockport, and the former Stevenage man will form a central defensive trio with Ali Omar and Dean Moxey.
There's also a brand new forward line at Johnson's disposal after Danny Wright decided to leave the club in the summer in the form of Aaron Jarvis, Corie Andrews and Will Goodwin.
In goal, Rhys Lovett, who played under Johnson at Cheltenham, will be vying for the goalkeeper's position with Mark Halstead.
At right-back, Dylan Crowe - another arrival from Ipswich Town - fills the void left by the departure of long serving Ben Wynter to Barnet.
However, perhaps the most interesting of Johnson's close season acquisitions is the capture of left-back Ben Wyatt, who was part of the Sutton United side, who pipped the Gulls to the National League title in 2020-21. Wyatt's arrival increases the number of players who have won promotion from the National League in their careers to three (the other two are Asa Hall and Dean Moxey).
If Johnson does manage to lead the Gulls to promotion from the National League, it will be for the third time in his career. He led Yeovil Town to the title in 2002-03 and then repeated the feat in 2015-16 with Cheltenham Town. When Johnson won the National League with the Robins, Danny Wright, Dan Holman and Billy Waters - who have all served under him at Plainmoor at various times - scored 22, 16 and 11 goals respectively. If Messrs Andrews, Jarvis and Goodwin can achieve similar returns in front of goal then United could cause more than a few surprises in 2022-23.
Player to Watch: Brett McGavin
United
fans would have caught a glimpse of Brett McGavin during his loan spell
with King's Lynn Town from parent club Ipswich Town last season. With
Armani Little and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans now departed for the EFL.
McGavin's role will be to bring a touch of class to the Gulls' midfield, and after scoring three time in 36 appearances for the Linnets he will be hoping to hit double figures with United.
In: Kieron Evans (Cardiff City- loan), Dylan Crowe & Brett McGavin (Ipswich Town), James Hanson (Dover Athletic), Aaron Jarvis (Scunthorpe United), Ross Marshall (Stevenage), Ollie Tomlinson (Plymouth Argyle), Corie Andrews (AFC Wimbledon), Shaun Donnellan (Maidenhead United), Rhys Lovett (Billericay Town), Will Goodwin (Stoke City, loan), Ben Wyatt (Sutton United) Lewis Brooks & Jack Winsor (Under-18s)
Out: Armani Little (Forest Green Rovers), Connor Lemonheigh-Evans & Joe Lewis (Stockport County), Ben Wynter (Barnet), Shaun MacDonald (Cheltenham Town), Danny Wright & Jake Andrews (Havant & Waterlooville) Joe Felix (Dulwich Hamlet), Louis Slough (Dorchester Town), Marcin Brzozowski (Hayes & Yeading), Klaidi Lolos (Oxford City), Keelan O'Connell (Weymouth), Gabby Rogers (Kidderminster Harriers)