Torquay United Fans Forum

[quote=UnitedinDevon post_id=276843 time=1703007452 user_id=24662]
Nearly an hour worth of questions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaBEXZj69KA
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2 months on. This aged well.

One of the biggest frustrations for me with a lot of these fans forum Q&A events, is that the questions posed are always too long-winded as to allow the board member eventually just a general topic to talk about from whatever perspective they prefer, rather than answering the real question.

A good example was one of the questions started "will the club confirm if the playing budget was reduced this season".
I was eagerly anticipating an answer to a poignant question that we all are interested to learn.

Instead the question waffled on about the necessity for being competitive, everyone knows funds are tight, the damage of not being promoted, blah blah blah.
In the end Gary had a "topic" to discuss where he could mention all the positives people want to hear, rather than a direct answer to a direct question.

As such we are none the wiser about any reduction in the playing budget.

Too many of these long winded questions, make what would be a very informative forum, instead become a marketing exercise for the board members to deliver their rosy sound bytes and push their own agenda.

[quote="The Eternal Optimist" post_id=276873 time=1703093772 user_id=24769]
If the club leaves Torquay it will be diminished. If it leaves Torbay it will be finished. Yes the club may make more money, with all the promised avenues of revenue that will be available, it may even be sustainable, but the football side will be the poorer for it. Torquay United will not be the main revenue interest. Support will be much lower than today. Clearly, there is not a suitable site in Torquay, and I can't think of anywhere in Torbay. Perhaps one place is the old gasworks site on the Paignton / Torquay border? That seems to have been given up by the current developer. Chaos though, getting there, and nowhere to park. Plainmoor is a good stadium for us. It will be hard to create a better one. It is in a good location easy to get to, plenty of on road parking. You won't find better anywhere in Torquay, let alone Torbay. I don't look forward to any move away from Plainmoor.
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Would agree with your assertion that the club would be finished if it left the area; even moving to somewhere like Seale Hayne isn’t that different to franchising.

Clarke Osborne almost inadvertently gave his game away during the forum. He repeatedly mentioned getting involved with clubs “when they were on their knees”. He’s an opportunist, seeking to take advantage of an organisation’s misfortune, mismanagement or sheer bad luck to further his own nefarious agenda which is property. He pays no regard to the history, the heritage and emotional meaning attached to a sports venue. He was involved with his own “beloved” (yea, sure they are, Clarke) Bristol Rovers being kicked out of Eastville so he won’t shed any tears if ever TUFC left the only stadium any of us known them play in.

Football clubs need to be protected from people like Clarke Osborne and George Edwards, who think they can waltz in and decide that they think they know what’s best for a community’s football club that they themselves have absolutely no link to.

And how Clarke bristled when it was suggested TUFC was badly run!

Torquay United is appallingly run!

It wouldn’t be in the NLS for a start if it was being run well. Well-run professional football clubs don’t drop into regional football twice in 5 years. “Catch yerself on, Clarke!”

Blimey, even under Lew Pope we managed to stay in the EFL, nearly get promoted to what’s now League 1 and reached Wembley and yet George Edwards sits arrogantly saying we were a refereeing decision from getting back into the EFL, as though he has some modern-day footballing Midas touch.

For them it’s a game. It’s about winning and victory for them will be when Plainmoor is flattened and crumby housing is built on it and we are playing in some tinpot ground, probably in somewhere like Bovey Tracey. Anyone who believes a word they spouted in that video needs some help!

[quote=WainwrightGull post_id=276853 time=1703063478 user_id=24968]
The complete lack of comments from supporters really sums up all you need to know.
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Don't think we should be overly concerned by this, for my part with heavy work commitments and so close to Christmas haven't as yet had a chance to watch the whole video and wouldn't pass comment until I have. I know there will be many others in the same boat as me.

I'd more be concerned about some comments on the yellow army FB group, we seem still to have a fair percentage of fans, so easily convinced.

If the club leaves Torquay it will be diminished. If it leaves Torbay it will be finished. Yes the club may make more money, with all the promised avenues of revenue that will be available, it may even be sustainable, but the football side will be the poorer for it. Torquay United will not be the main revenue interest. Support will be much lower than today. Clearly, there is not a suitable site in Torquay, and I can't think of anywhere in Torbay. Perhaps one place is the old gasworks site on the Paignton / Torquay border? That seems to have been given up by the current developer. Chaos though, getting there, and nowhere to park. Plainmoor is a good stadium for us. It will be hard to create a better one. It is in a good location easy to get to, plenty of on road parking. You won't find better anywhere in Torquay, let alone Torbay. I don't look forward to any move away from Plainmoor.

I don't think our fan base has ever shown the determination or willpower to change anything to that extent but perhaps in the dark days I believe lay ahead we'll all come together to start over with a Phoenix club. Until he decides otherwise we're stuck with Osborne so I guess time will show us his true intentions. I definitely don't buy the party line, history says that would be stupidly naive.

[quote="Southampton Gull" post_id=276869 time=1703089566 user_id=60]
Well going by Osborne's statement that he's only ever had successful ventures I'd say success for him means our ruin. Perhaps he sees us groundsharing Sandy Park??
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our ruin, without a doubt. Sorry, i meant, where do we go in terms of, what can we as fans do about it other than wait for the inevitable demise, however long that takes and then start a phoenix club if the ground still exists. I don't have an issue with a Phoenix club other than, the prolonged wait for a situation that requires it. It's the long drawn out demise, the lies and the false promises that make it all so disgusting. Do we have to wait or can we take strong positive steps now?

Well going by Osborne's statement that he's only ever had successful ventures I'd say success for him means our ruin. Perhaps he sees us groundsharing Sandy Park??

[quote="Southampton Gull" post_id=276852 time=1703062761 user_id=60]
I've literally just watched the video and came on here to post my thoughts but the post above by Hector says all anyone needs to know.
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agreed, Hector has captured it perfectly. Where do we go from here though?

Was also surprised a few of those questions got through although the lack of audience I guess stopped the questioning to the responses. Thats coming apparently!

I dont think hes wrong in stating the need for greater revenues in any move to a new stadium, i dont have the details on the swindon, reading, poole stadiums or lack of and his comments but certainly worthy to research prior to any fans forum in person. It did sound like it was everyone else fault however.

My fear is we get some lesser stadium than the one now and suitable only for the level we are at. I went to Havant the other week and that springs to mind.

I just didnt get the last ish response to getting his outlay back. Hes basically willing to let £6M go down the drain, could be £7 or £8M by the time we get stadium or EFL achieved, and it just doesnt add up. I dont think hes such a weathly person to let that go just for the fun of projects! BS!

Anyway, watching with caution. Whatever you think of them, kudos to the TUST for playing their part in getting this lot out of the woodwork. Havent seen any of them for years and now CO turns up twice in a month. They must be wary! Didnt know Edwards was a scouser or sounded like one from his repeated 'UNITED!'

Great post Hector. :clap:
The only way we'll get a new stadium, is if we buy one of those miniature ones off eBay and put TUFC stickers on it.......

Well said Hector

" Mel Hayman looked like she rather be anywhere else than on one of those uncomfortable looking chairs - almost wanted to say to her “blink twice if you need rescuing” as she surely doesn’t believe it. "

Laugh out loud moment !!

As a new fan who's just registered, I wanted to post my thoughts on the sit down questions and answers session , recently put out by the club...
I was surprised a good few questions on certain topics were brought up, and in fairness the panel did answer them at least, however you'd think Clarke Osborne had left some amazing legacy at Swindon, Reading,MK, and I Bristol where in reality I beg to differ from his words .Mr "One club ..United" was only there to back up Clarke, and nod and agree, Gary Johnson folks is going nowhere anytime soon, that was abundantly clear....like I say, I'll give them all credit for answering the questions that were submitted..Still cannot workout Clarke's answer to the great question about him putting all this money in for exactly what in return?, there has to be a reason behind this surely, or is he our "white knight" like he claims to be?, doubtful, businessmen are usually after money,land, notoriety etc, I'm not trying to be suspicious, but what's his end game?.

The complete lack of comments from supporters really sums up all you need to know.
As for Edwards comment we have the best manager
Is that why we got relegated and find ourselves in the 5th tier I wonder.
Dragging up the old chestnut of blaming the referee at Ashton Gate again. Johnson should have recruited and covered for the injuries. Yes the ref was shit but so was his game management

I've literally just watched the video and came on here to post my thoughts but the post above by Hector says all anyone needs to know.