Great minds may think alike !!!

MF68 · Post by **MF68** » 18 Nov 2015, 17:52

Recently, and quite understandably, the site has becoming really quite depressing. Both on and off the field we have been bang average to say the very least.

The New Board were rightly praised for their support of the club and their efforts to keep it going. They are now finding what a task they have undertaken and how difficult it is proving.

Now is the time to stick together and not crucify present or previous boards, present or previous managers, coaches, players or staff. We have all read the "ive never known it this bad" or the "Dave Webb era" or the recent "thats it, last one out turn off the lights". Nobody who goes on the site want any of these to become a reality (I know, perhaps a few planks do).

This may well sound quite far fetched and may never see the light of day but how about this ......................

A sort of Emergency Summit - The Board, The Council (including The Mayor), TUST, the Manager, David Thomas, selected Supporters can attend.

It is not to become a slanging match where we all blame each other, that time has long passed. What I beleive is needed is to listen to all interested parties, experts and advisors to get us functioning like a proper Club again.

The Board may not like it but they need all the help they can get.

Could this posibly work ?

chunkygull · Post by **chunkygull** » 18 Nov 2015, 20:24

I really like your thinking on this, it wouldnt be a bad thing if it garnered a positive, constructive or helpful outcome. Unfortunately we dont live in a world where different factions can sit around a table, ammicably and constructively thrash things out and make things right for a greater good.

In a situation like that there would possibly be too many contradicting opinions, contrasting egos, people not prepared to listen to each other thinking they know best and a few with their own agendas. Our council apart from getting in revenue from the lease of Plainmoor have never really seemed to give a shit about TUFC, the TUST just doesnt seem to be big enough to have any influence, would a board of a football club listen to its fans or heaven forbid outside organisations, non football people or club boards arent supposed to tell a football manager what to do (although some including ours quite clesarly need telling a few home truths sometimes) and as for Dave Thomas he either doesnt get his facts right half the time by misrepresenting things in print which is designed to sway opinions or putting it another way clearly has some sort of axe to grind with the current board because he was well chummy and straight up the arse of the old regime and certain former players/"legends", I dont think many of our fans have much respect for his journalism in recent times, he does nothing to bang the drum for the club.

But again, I do like the idea in principle. Isnt it similar to what happened with Plymouth Argyle when they were in deep trouble, the club, the council and supporters pulled together and worked together to find a solution and fix the problems, putting small businesses in trouble and not paying for things that you owe aside it would be nice if we could make something similar happen and it works.

lucy6lucy · Post by **lucy6lucy** » 18 Nov 2015, 21:38

chunkygull wrote:I really like your thinking on this, it wouldnt be a bad thing if it garnered a positive, constructive or helpful outcome. Unfortunately we dont live in a world where different factions can sit around a table, ammicably and constructively thrash things out and make things right for a greater good.

In a situation like that there would possibly be too many contradicting opinions, contrasting egos, people not prepared to listen to each other thinking they know best and a few with their own agendas. Our council apart from getting in revenue from the lease of Plainmoor have never really seemed to give a sh*t about TUFC, the TUST just doesnt seem to be big enough to have any influence, would a board of a football club listen to its fans or heaven forbid outside organisations, non football people or club boards arent supposed to tell a football manager what to do (although some including ours quite clesarly need telling a few home truths sometimes) and as for Dave Thomas he either doesnt get his facts right half the time by misrepresenting things in print which is designed to sway opinions or putting it another way clearly has some sort of axe to grind with the current board because he was well chummy and straight up the arse of the old regime and certain former players/"legends", I dont think many of our fans have much respect for his journalism in recent times, he does nothing to bang the drum for the club.

But again, I do like the idea in principle. Isnt it similar to what happened with Plymouth Argyle when they were in deep trouble, the club, the council and supporters pulled together and worked together to find a solution and fix the problems, putting small businesses in trouble and not paying for things that you owe aside it would be nice if we could make something similar happen and it works.

The big difference with Plymouth and Torquay is that Plymouth have a greater fan base, which will always generate more gate receipts.

Burnhamgull · Post by **Burnhamgull** » 18 Nov 2015, 22:25

lucy6lucy wrote: The big difference with Plymouth and Torquay is that Plymouth have a greater fan base, which will always generate more gate receipts.

Big town/city clubs will always rise due to their fan base turning out when the good times roll. Torquay has never had and will never have a big fan base. When good times did hit Torquay we still struggled to reach crowds of 4000. For that reason, the club will always scramble around in lower league football at best. At worst, it goes bust.

Handing back the keys to a disasterous training ground.
Offloading idiots who'd rather fight than focus on a career
Employing a rookie manager who is starting to lose his way
Losing to clubs like Bromley at home and Basingstoke away
Talk of players here for a jolly

There's a number of other **** ups that other members could list but for me the writing is on the wall and sadly it looks all too inevitable.

Realistically, who would honestly buy the club right now?

As for the TUST, it's nice idea but when only 20 members turn up for the AGM, it shows that peoples hearts aren't really in it anymore. Myself included.

Post by **Gulliball** » 18 Nov 2015, 22:26

Was exactly seven years ago today that we beat Lewes 4-1 at home to go top of this division, on the way to promotion. Happy days.

chunkygull · Post by **chunkygull** » 18 Nov 2015, 23:07

I am perfectly aware of the situation, it has been years and years of Torbay not giving a toss for one reason or another, poor decision making and a lack of foresight and ambition that has lead us to where we are. The point about Plymouth was nothing to do with size of fanbase, that is an obvious one, the point was when the chips were down various factions pulled together, that would never happen here.

tomogull · Post by **tomogull** » 19 Nov 2015, 00:20

MF68 wrote: A sort of Emergency Summit - The Board, The Council (including The Mayor), TUST, the Manager, David Thomas, selected Supporters can attend.

This is a fine sentiment MF68, but the Mayor attend a meeting ? I've just seen a couple of pigs fly past the window. He has not got the slightest interest in Torquay United.

midtable · Post by **midtable** » 19 Nov 2015, 01:01

At the end of the day it is about money. The more money we have the better the players and yes there might be an exception to that rule.
We need investment but unless the die hard fans mortgage their homes I am not sure where it is coming from. In the meantime the player fund is the best way for the majority to add their support even if it is just a quid.

MF68 · Post by **MF68** » 19 Nov 2015, 09:27

Tomo....I have emailed the Mayor earlier in the week and have a meeting with him in the next ten days.
Forget about Plymouth and their bigger fan base. This is not about people putting their hand in their pockets. The idea was that the Board, the Council the Supporters Trust combine their brains and any knowhow to move us forward.

The Council has a definite role to play bearing in mind that the Club will attract money to the Bay as it has in the past.

In response to the original thread chunky rather slated Dave Thomas from the Herald Express. My reason for including him was that he will have seen good, bad and indifferent teams, owners, directors and administrators.

Surely we can try and get everyone together round the table (even former players) and try and improve the current situation.

I have known Dave Phillips 30 years and Im sure he would be amenable to this idea.

tomogull · Post by **tomogull** » 19 Nov 2015, 12:38

MF68 wrote:Tomo....I have emailed the Mayor earlier in the week and have a meeting with him in the next ten days.
Forget about Plymouth and their bigger fan base. This is not about people putting their hand in their pockets. The idea was that the Board, the Council the Supporters Trust combine their brains and any knowhow to move us forward.

Well done MF68 - I take my hat off to you

and I take back my post above. I wish you, and the club, every success with this great effort to move the club forward.

MF68 · Post by **MF68** » 19 Nov 2015, 13:29

Thanks Tomo.

I wish a few more would share your enthusiasm. Or are people not bothered or wishing to support the idea of helping the Club get out of this mess.

Totnes_Yellow · Post by **Totnes_Yellow** » 19 Nov 2015, 13:59

Fantastic idea and approach. Sadly I've spent too much time on this forum in the last few days so I was corrupted by the negativity :-| and initially thought "Oh what a dream like idea, never going to happen"

But well done for taking the initiative. My only lasting concern is that the immediate football future of this club is in the hands of 11 young men and I'm just not sure their heart would be in it as much as whoever sits at the table..

ROADRUNNER · Post by **ROADRUNNER** » 19 Nov 2015, 15:04

nice idea but what we need is someone with mega bucks to buy the club and soon otherwise we are finished, i truly believe that if we arent bought out soon we will end up like rushden and hereford.
dont want to sound negative but the light at the end of the tunnel seems to have gone.

Added in 1 second:
nice idea but what we need is someone with mega bucks to buy the club and soon otherwise we are finished, i truly believe that if we arent bought out soon we will end up like rushden and hereford.
dont want to sound negative but the light at the end of the tunnel seems to have gone.

MF68 · Post by **MF68** » 19 Nov 2015, 15:54

RR - Thats exactly the point. It shouldnt be allowed to get worse, there must be hundreds of fans talking between themselves saying "why dont they do this" or "why doesnt the Club speak to ???"

Its only a meeting of minds !!!!!

Glostergull · Post by **Glostergull** » 19 Nov 2015, 18:08

As well as supporters. board members and media. I think Kevin and the players and backroom staff should be there. the players really do need to see the passion. (whats left of it) from those who work here and to an extent its their lives. they need to see the passionate supporters. Kevin needs to be there to instill in them that all this passion needs to be channeled and he can provide that extra push to show them that they need to be at the top of their game every week. heads are down at the moment , i can understand that. but with all pushing or pulling (depending on where you stand) we can instill a sense of loyalty and purpose into the team that will hopefully translate into them running through walls for us.
That will help a lot i'm sure.. mid table mediocrity would be a God send right now. the old Dunkirk Spirit is needed.

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