TT BLOG

Clive Hayward

@Byehorse

Clive discusses the Gulls and more

Yesterday was May Day. Celebrated in some countries as International Labour Day, it has older connotations too, with May 1st often being taken as the ceremonial start of Summer. May Queens, May Poles, Maybe that’s enough of that list. Lots of positive stuff anyway.

It might just turn out to be a momentous day in the history of Torquay United too. As well as marking Torquay United’s 125th birthday we might soon be able to look back on it as a huge turning point.

THE ADMINISTRATORS’ STATEMENT

This is what came out on Wednesday morning:

“We can confirm that The Bryn Consortium of Michael Westcott, Tom Allen, Mark Bowes-Cavanagh, Rob Hawes and Simon Robinson is the preferred bidder in the proposed sale of Torquay United AFC Limited. During the past week, The Bryn Consortium has emerged as the party that can provide the best prospects for both the club and its creditors in the immediate and longer term. We expect to make a further progress update next week.”

WHAT DID IT MEAN?

The statement strongly suggested that whoever had been announced as the Preferred Bidder on April 9th no longer held that status. The most likely scenario is that whereas the Administrators felt they were once the best candidates this is no longer the case. We still don’t know who the Formerly Preferred Bidder was, but chances are he she or they didn’t, wouldn’t or couldn’t come up with the goods when they needed to.

Where have we heard that before? Out you go. Thanks for coming, and please close the door on your way out!

It’s an unexpected second chance for the “Bryn Consortium”, a much less shadowy group who have said they are prepared to work in partnership with the Supporters Trust and in whom the Trust have expressed confidence as great partners to rescue the club and take it forwards.

IS IT GOOD NEWS?

Yes. My cynical heart skipped a beat. Nothing is finalised but I believe it is potentially great: it could be the best thing that has happened to our football club since Frank O’Farrell rocked up in 1965 with a sharp suit and a West Ham contacts book thicker than Ross Marshall!

Why? Because the Bryn Consortium are supporters of the club who are prepared to make a significant financial investment with no strings attached. They don’t expect to see a return on their money and they have made it clear that they see a future where fan ownership can play a significant role. We won’t be at the whim of businessmen with no interest in football and a lamentable track record of letting down sports clubs and the communities that support them.

My opinion is that if the Former Preferred Bidders had had club-changing amounts of money they would have been shouting about it. But we never heard from them. There was just an anonymous briefing that “we want to get back into the Football League in 2 seasons”.

Unfortunately, with a totally failed club losing nearly a million pounds last year it might need to be baby steps to start with. We cannot spend the sort of money on inadequate professionals that has been the hallmark of the last 3 years. We have found out the hard way that we’ve got 2000 fans who will still come to Plainmoor come what may. That can become 3000 again with a bit more goodwill but an extra 1000 on the gate won’t solve all the financial woes.

What we will desperately need is better, smarter recruitment, That will start with the manager, or perhaps coach. Perhaps it will be a young squad. Maybe we can attract good players who don’t want to commit to full time football. One or two of the successful under 18’s squad might be good enough.

Let’s be honest, any sort of better organised squad than this year’s shambles should be able to finish in the top half of National League South. Give me that, some fan ownership and a different Chief Executive in 12 months time and I’ll take it.

But we all love to dream, and Gabrielle knew that dreams can come true. Ask Ipswich!

MIGHT IT BE BAD NEWS?

It was a busy day on WhatsApp, and most people in that bubble share my positive view about the Bryn Consortium. But there are 2 sides to every story, and it may be that there are still some Osborne-sized bumps in the road before we can exit administration. Always remember that that needs to happen before the National League AGM in June.

The new Preferred Bidders were not the administrators’ first choice, so there was almost certainly a time when they didn’t look the best bet from the narrow financial perspective that the accountants have to apply. Valuable time (3 weeks and counting) has been lost waiting for the previous bidders to get their ducks in a row. Administration ain’t over ‘til it’s over- and the doomsday scenario of liquidation or the Western League cannot be put to bed until then.

But come on: the close involvement of the Trust means that the Bryn takeover bid can be trusted, and I reckon we’ll still have a team to support in August!

Before that though, as a fellow Yellow said to me recently, we might have something else to look forward to. At 4am this morning the early birds were already forming an orderly queue to wish George Edwards all the very best in his next adventure. As I write this, there are 24,000 people waiting for the chance to shake his hand as he walks down Westlands Lane for the last time.

“Dreams, can come true,

Look at me babe I’m with you,

You know you gotta have hope

You know you gotta be strong”