With an extension agreed to their notice of entering Administration and talks with new owners ongoing, Torquay United interim manager Aaron Downes' attentions are firmly focused on achieving all three points in the Gulls' next two fixtures against Dartford and Taunton Town.
Having earned creditable draws against Aveley at home and away to Weymouth since Downes took over the managerial reins from Gary Johnson - albeit on a temporary basis. However, United need wins to close the gap on the top seven, or even the bottom four should the worst come to the worst and they receive a ten point deduction for entering Administration.
First up, Dartford, who finished as National League South runners-up in the 2022-23 season, visit Plainmoor in what will be new manager Ady Pennock's first game in charge. It won't be the first time that the paths of Downes and Pennock have crossed; Pennock was in charge of Forest Green Rovers during the 2015-16 season which they ended as runners-up behind a Cheltenham Town side who Downes captained.
Then there is the Devon-Somerset Derby which sees Taunton Town visit Plainmoor for a game which finally gives the Gulls the chance to face the Peacocks, as the reverse fixture at Wordsworth Drive has already been postponed three times this season.
Although Downes appears to have been thrown in the deep end as a manager, he had spent a number of years doing an apprenticeship through his role as head of coaching at Cheltenham before serving as assistant manager to Gary Johnson for a number of years. He had also played a number of notable managers including Johnson at Cheltenham, Roy McFarland and John Sheridan during his time at Chesterfield and Martin Ling and Alan Knill from his spell as a player at Plainmoor and he also featured in the Australia squad at the World Under-20 Championship in 2005 under current Spurs boss Ange Postecoglu - all of whom he can draw inspiration from.
