Torquay United's new owners has appointed a new manager just days after agreeing a deal to buy the club with it's Administrators.
The Bryn Consortium, which has agreed to acquire Torquay United subject to creditor approval, has confirmed the appointment of Paul Wotton as first team manager. The Consortium also confirmed that Neil Warnock will join the incoming new board at Plainmoor as Football Advisor.
Wotton joins Torquay from Truro City where he enjoyed five successful seasons, including winning promotion to the National League South in 2022, as Southern Premier South play-off winners. He was formerly first team coach and assistant manager at Plymouth Argyle, where he worked under John Sheridan and Derek Adams after hanging up his boots.
After making his debut for the Pilgrims as a teenager in the 1994-95 campaign, Wotton went on to captain the Pilgrims to their Third Division championship under Paul Sturrock in the 2001-02 season. Two years later, he also captained Argyle to the Second Division title in the 2003-04 campaign and remained a regular at Home Park until his release at the end of the 2008-09 season.
Spells with Southampton and Yeovil Town followed before Wotton returned to Home Park midway through the 2011-12 season. When he returned to Home Park, the Pilgrims had just exited Administration themselves and were fighting to avoid being relegated from the Football League, but Wotton played a key role in helping the Pilgrims retain their place in League Two under Carl Fletcher.
“Following a meticulous search, the Consortium Board agreed that Paul’s credentials and vision were most closely aligned with our own and he will arrive at Plainmoor as part of a restructuring of the football set up at the Club,” said Mark Bowes-Cavanagh, in-coming co-chairman.
Devon-based Wotton has signed an initial three-year contract and will formally take up his post once the Bryn Consortium assumes day-to-day operations of Torquay United upon creditor approval of the CVA.
Neil Warnock has managed sixteen clubs from the Premier League to Non-League, including a spell at Torquay United in 1993 which saved the Gulls from relegation. Warnock holds the record for the most promotions, with eight, and the most games with 1,626.
“We are delighted Neil is joining the Board. He brings an unrivalled wealth of football knowledge and experience to Torquay United as we look to rebuild. There is a strong chemistry and mutual respect between Neil and Paul and we are excited about their approach to building a squad and the uncompromising brand of football they want our team to play,” added Michael Westcott, co-chairman of the Bryn Consortium.
The make up of Wotton's backroom staff is yet to be announced, but former interim manager Aaron Downes has left the club.
