TT BLOG
Joe Uglow
@Joe_Ugs
Joe discusses priorities for new TUFC owners
Wow! What a rollercoaster week at TQ1! I’m sure most of us have experienced a multitude of emotions this week as we digested the news that Clark Osborne was removing his funding and placing the club into the hands of the administrators. For me, the initial feeling was one of despair as I pondered the thought of losing the club I love, but after an initial hour or two, after the shock subsided came renewed hope that this may actually be the catalyst for a new dawn and new era at Plainmoor. A new ownership could potentially bring so much back to Plainmoor that has been missing.
Some key improvements I’d like to see any new ownership bring in would be:
WORKING WITH THE SUPPORTERS
Following on from the improved comms from the club it would be superb if there could be a voice at the top table for the fans, a place on the board for the trust or even regular meetings/dialogue with the new owner (not the supporter liaison officer under strict instructions from the CEO!). Regular Fans Forums in the Paul Buckle era used to be so insightful for fans to see how the decisions were being made at the club and a return to this rather than the autocratic dictatorship that we’ve become so accustomed to in recent years would be much welcomed. Time to banish the ‘Them and Us’ approach for good and work hard with our loyal supporters for a Torquay United we can all be proud of.
COMMUNICATION/ENGAGEMENT
How refreshing has the @TUFC1899 social media presence been this last week? It astounds me that the directive from Edwards & Osborne was to not engage with the fans, instead treating us only as customers or Pyro waving criminals. It’s obvious from the change in tone on the socials since the announcement that the social media team now feel they can bring a human element to their postings. Replying to fan tweets, posting engaging inspiring tweets is not a rarity for most clubs, in fact it’s usually the norm, and this should continue no matter who owns Torquay United. Social Media is such a huge part of all lives and a huge part of following our football club, get this right and it will benefit the club, as it has done in the last few days.
MATCHDAY EXPERIENCE
The matchday experience at Plainmoor has been pretty dire for a number of years now. Superficial events such as the community days felt forced and almost seemed like they were used to disguise the poor attendances as fans started to vote with their feet. We’ve even decided to remove the half time crossbar challenge that a least prompted a laugh and a distraction at half time from the dire football that had been usually served up in the first half! There is so much that could be done to attract fans to Plainmoor both before and after the game, I recently went along with a friend to an Argyle game at Home Park, and the matchday experience was fantastic, they had a fanzone outside the Devonport End open from 12 with live music right up until kick off, 100s of fans were there spending their money and this continued after the game also. At half time they had Buster Phillips on the pitch to do the 50/50 draw and a good 10 minutes of reminiscing about his time there over the tannoy. There must have been 6 different school teams on the pitch playing a variety of games and the kids were loving it! Who remembers when United used to host Primary school matches at half time, the look on the kid’s faces as they scored a goal was fantastic to see, these are the next generation and if you can get them hooked early enough before they get drawn into the Premier League circus then you can create fans for life!
ON THE PITCH
Whilst it’s clear that Downesy is Torquay through and through and a valid interim solution, I don’t feel longer term he is the man to take us forward. A suitable “modern day” manager will need to be found to drive the club forward, someone who’s enjoyed relative success in recent years but find themselves out of work. For me two names stand out that fit this mould; Dennis Kutrieb; recently let go by Ebbsfleet after guiding them to the NLS title last season or Darren Sarll who guided Woking to the National League Play-offs last season. A completely new start on the pitch would be refreshing and would be a clear cut off from the Gary Johnson era, I fear if Downesy was given the role full-time we would see a similar style of recruitment which we have suffered over the last couple years.
PLAINMOOR
It’s clear that Plainmoor is going to be our home for years to come, so lets see a return to much simpler times; Pay on the Gate, no £2 matchday surcharge, Stewards at the game with primary objective of keeping people safe rather than looking for trouble or confiscating bedsheets! Also let’s make sure it’s a stadium we can be proud of! Some of the photos posted on social media by fans recently, especially outside the Popside, showed how much the ground needs some care and attention. Hopefully, the club can build on this new relationship between the club and the fanbase and maybe ask volunteers to give it a bit of a makeover, a lick of paint here and there, and it may take more than a voluntary effort, but those Popside toilets could certainly do with an overhaul!
COYY – JOE
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