TT BLOG

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

Squad Building for 26/27

With Torquay United’s first pre-season friendly of the 2026-27 season away to Buckland Athletic now only a matter of weeks away, manager Jimmy Ball has been busy over the summer, having made six new signings so far.

Goalkeeper Zak Baker, right-back Dom Bernard, left-back Tyler Hill, winger Sean Robertson and strikers Callum Morton and Isaac Westendorf are the new faces that the Plainmoor faithful will soon become acquainted. However, Morton will already be a familiar figure to some, as he hails from Torquay and grew up supporting the Gulls.

At the time of writing, Ball currently has 20 players under contract for 2026-27, but there are still positions which will need to be filled by the time United kick off their National League South campaign on August 8.

Former Plymouth Argyle keeper Zak Baker, 23, is currently the only goalkeeper contracted to the club. Whether Ball will bring in a more experienced keeper to compete with Baker for the position, or bring in a young, up and coming keeper on a season-long loan from an EFL club, remains to be seen.

In defence, Jordan Dyer, who agreed a new contract following the conclusion to the 2025-26 campaign, and Sam Dreyer are the only centre backs on United’s books. Dreyer, who has a year left to run on his current deal, has been linked with a move away from Plainmoor. If Dreyer does leave the Gulls, then Tyler Cordner, formerly of York City – who spent last season on loan under Ball at AFC Totton, could be an ideal replacement, as could Yeovil Town’s Jake Wannell if Glovers’ boss Billy Rowley decided that he wasn’t part of his plans.

Another player who may also be of interest to Ball is Will Tizzard, who joined the Gulls on loan from Sutton United in 2025-26. Tizzard has been made available for transfer by the U’s, and can provide cover at right back as well as centre back.

When utility player Charlie Osborne signed for United on loan from AFC Bournemouth last season, it was the second time that he had been signed by Jimmy Ball, having also played on loan under him for AFC Totton. Osborne was released by the Cherries at the end of 2025-26, and could well be on Ball’s radar again, especially as he can operate in both full-back positions and in the centre of midfield.

Last season’s leading scorer Jordan Young is another player who is rumoured to have attracted interest from higher up the footballing pyramid, but Sean Robertson will surely be given a chance to stake his claim if that comes to pass.

The will-he, won’t-he saga of Deon Moore continues to rumble on, as Ball awaits his answer to the contract offer made to him. However, the Gulls are well covered in the striker department following the arrivals of Morton and Westendorf and Cody Cooke’s decision to sign a new deal. Sonny Fish, who experienced an injury hit 2025-26, also remains under contract.

After United’s first pre-season friendly against Buckland on July 4, away trips to Cullompton Rangers (July 8), Brixham AFC (July 11), Plymouth Parkway (July 14) and Weston Super Mare (July 18) follow before their first home friendly against Plymouth Argyle on July 21.

The Gulls will then complete their pre-season programme with home friendlies against Cardiff City Under-21s (July 25) and Exeter City (July 31).

Here is the current Gulls’ squad position by position: