Club statement

[Gullscorer]

Cornwall is local...??

[Plymouth Gull]

Do you think Colin Lee would be considered again? Or has he cut his ties with the board?

[Gullscorer]

Somebody (miagsygas!) on the Football Forum said Paul Buckle could be available soon....

[Plymouth Gull]

Or Graham Westley! Wouldn't want it long term, we just need a motivator.

[miagsygas]

Somebody on the Football Forum said Paul Buckle could be available soon....

[CP Gull]

Worrying news on Martin, get well soon.

As for the "experienced coach" we are looking to bring in, personally I feel it would be better for someone to be brought in above Shaun Taylor rather than beneath him as, decent bloke that he is, what experience does he have of managing a football club at any level, let alone one that is now fighting for it's league survival!

I wonder if we might be looking at Shaun North? I believe he was at the game last night, and could explain why he was there. Quite honestly if we are indeed looking at giving Taylor some help on the coaching side then there is probably no one better suited as he knows nearly all the squad anyway. Not only that but he is almost certainly cheap and he may well be available, as John Ward had this to say on his appointment:

"Ward, who turned down a six-month offer to become director of football at Plymouth Argyle in favour of returning to a club he says he has a "real affinity" with, will retain the services of assistant manager Shaun North for the time being, but did not rule out changes on the coaching staff in the coming weeks

Read more: http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/New-Bris ... z2KnlcG4Nj

That is hardly a statement of wholehearted support for North and suggests to me that he (Ward) is probably looking to bring in his own men and that North's position at BRFC is "under review".

I doubt there are too many coaches prepared to come here and work effectively on a match-by-match basis on the understanding that when Lingy returns (if he does) that they would be surplus to requirements, but someone like Northy might just take it on on that basis I suppose if he can reach some sort of settlement with BRFC.

Purely from a TUFC perspective, the uncertainty of Lingy's situation and when and indeed if he will even want to return couldn't have happened at a worse time for us and it seems we are (probably) now faced with seeing out the rest of the season in a relegation battle with a rookie Manager at the helm and no money it seems to strengthen what seems an increasingly demoralised squad any further.

Worrying times.

[Plymouth Gull]

CP, agree entirely. If it's someone to work under Taylor then I think that's entirely the wrong choice to make. We need a leader right now.

[ROADRUNNER]

We will get a leader the club is working hard to get the right person in.

[divingbboy]

Do you think Colin Lee would be considered again? Or has he cut his ties with the board?

Didn't he sue or threaten to sue for compensation when he left? I seem to recall his daughter posting on here a couple of times and suggesting so. If so, I'd say he's unlikely.

[Glostergull]

Good to get some kind of clarity on the situation from the club, for now, we should only send our best wishes to Martin and his family and hope that it is something he can fully recover from. He is clearly an honest, hard-working very likeable bloke who has signed some excellent players for Torquay and given us some incredible memories, most notable from last season, and will still hopefully have a part to play in our positive future progression.

Hopefully there is some kind of emergency fund for this kind of thing, not sure about a couple of the figures being banded about for the cost of a temporary manager, but as there are 10 weeks left until the end of the season, surely we can get someone decent for say £2k a week and a £5k sweetner bonus for signing/keeping us up = £25k. It's nothing in terms of the potential loss of going down.

Of the names mentioned, think it had to be a manager not a coach, so should rule out someone like Paul Bodin. I would love Nigel Adkins, but couldn't for moment imagine him dropping this low. Next best might be someone like Westley, he plays a fairly bland variety of football and his record at PNE was lacking a bit, but he's been very effective in the past at getting results at smaller clubs. One other name to pop in the hat, I have no idea what he's up to nowadays, if he's still involved in football or even if he's still alive!!! But Ian Atkins...brilliant football firefighter, did it for us once before.

I think you may be looking at it from the wrong perspective. First of all the club have said they are looking for an assistant to help with coaching. Leroy would fit that Bill. They are not looking for a manger to take his place. That would open up the problem of undermining his position should he come back. secondly I think it might well be a little dearer to get some one in. I might suggest 10 higher at least for a good coach unless done partly as a favour. but you have also forgotten about tax and insurance. If we get someone in on say 2k a week. then he may well want accommodation while down here, I have doubts that he would accept the lodge but it is possible. but even then the lodge is usually booked up. so hotel bills would rack up considerably. even with a deal being struck i doubt you would get much change from 1k a week. then on top of that although the guy would have to pay his own tax and NI. The club has to pay it's own share of NI on top which is currently I think 13% and insurance for him, plus there are bound to be extras we havnt thought or dont know about. I doubt it would cost much less than 4k a week.
Mind you I take the point that we may well lose more than that if we went down. We really need the suppport of the fans at this time. Something which is sadly lacking at this time which is having such an affect on our finance.
I really do wonder at the wisdom or lack of it coming out of the mouths of supporters lately. They say they want success but when it comes to paying for it. the fans want us to dish out the dosh first and then they will think about whether they will come. and then very often they don't yet critisise the club when we have to make cuts because we paid out and then the fans didnt do their part. Last year was a point in case. we paid out and had a successful team. Did we get big gates as a result . No. so we had to make cuts this year, Now the fans are complaining. well last year was when you all laid the foundation for that.

[CP Gull]

Interesting.

I notice that the OS has made an alteration to the club statement which materially effects the type of role we are looking to fill.

It has changed from "looking for an experienced coach" to looking for an individual with "managerial experience" which rather backs up what Roadrunner has suggested, namely that we are looking for a"leader".

There are a few out of work managers that I wouldn't mind seeing here. The likes of Gary Waddock and Andy Scott who have both had success in the recent past at this level, as well as the likes of John Coleman who did wonders on a tiny budget at Accy and even maybe Keith Curle who seemed to be doing ok at Notts County before getting the sack somewhat unfairly I feel. Whether any of these established Managers would be happy to take on a temporary role remains to be seen though. I imagine at the very least we would need to offer anyone a position at least until the end of this season, although how this would sit with Lingy and his situation I really don't know. I guess the likes of Sheridan at Argyle and Ward at Bristol Rovers, not to mention Benitez any Chelsea are all working on such short term contracts though.

[Dave]

The statement clearly says the club are looking for someone with "managerial experience" To help Shaun Taylor, surely that would rule out Shaun North/Paul Bodin, more I think about it Keith Curle could be a decent shout.

[CP Gull]

The statement clearly says the club are looking for someone with "managerial experience" To help Shaun Taylor, surely that would rule out Shaun North/Paul Bodin, more I think about it Keith Curle could be a decent shout.

Yes I agree it does now Dave, but if you look at Scott's original post the OS statement clearly initially stated we were looking for an experienced coach. They have since changed it to an individual with Managerial experience. Either someone wasn't happy with the wording and got it changed or perhaps there has even been a change of direction in policy as the day has unfolded after the events of last night?

[Dave]

Yes I agree it does now Dave, but if you look at Scott's original post the OS statement clearly initially stated we were looking for an experienced coach. They have since changed it to an individual with Managerial experience. Either someone wasn't happy with the wording and got it changed or perhaps there has even been a change of direction in policy as the day has unfolded after the events of last night?

I had not noticed that little change Chris, my bad. Think it is more likely someone was not happy with the wording, I said it myself earlier in the thread, in the position we are in what is the point of bringing in another coach, we have one in Shaun Taylor, what we need is someone with management experience with the situation we are in.

Also said we need someone who can come in look at recent match dvd's and maybe give fresh idea's and a new approach. I think Paul Bodin/Shaun North would just support the norm, and that why I am hoping for someone a little above that, Rotherham's third goal, had relegation written all over it.

[Glostergull]

Maybe we are going to make a cheeky move for Benitez.tell him of the super atmosphere of the Riviera and he would have a permenant position unlike the Premier league where you are out on your ear in 6 months if you are lucky. You never know he may well bring us to the attention of the Eastern Oligarchs and they will pump millions into the sleeping giant of The South West.
Come on guys we aint going to attract many to a temporary position. We will get applications from thoes who are not really looking for another management position. They will think they have no real prospects as they have been sacked and are likely to be overlooked by most clubs.
Anyone who is serious about the job will want a chance to get a permenant position. What does that do for MArtins position if they appoint someone like that, what will Shaun think if he finds himself working under a new guy who wants the job permenantly. Will be on his way out because the new man will pull in his own staff.
I know I wouldn't like to be the one who has to walk a tightrope trying to find a manager or coach who will be most likely temporary.