Every Wednesday in the Herald Express, our Torquay United correspondent Richard Hughes takes a sideways look at what's going on in the world of the Gulls. This week, he looks back at the 12 months at Plainmoor and the change - for the better - which happened

What an astonishing year this has been – one of the strangest, heartbreaking, inspiring, dramatic years in living memory for Gulls fans the world over. And what change we have seen in 12 months that shook the bay.

This time last year the clouds had already formed and were beginning to roll in. Torquay, under manager Gary Johnson, were actually second in the National League South table, but were about to embark on a downward slide that would see them battling to stay in the league after being deducted 11 points – and going close to going out of business.

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One day, when I write my history of Torquay United, the last 12 months will need to be a chapter in itself. With former owner Clarke Osborne having spent five years bankrolling the club from the shadows, and chief executive officer George Edwards batting away requests for interviews like a First Class cricketer, the popularity rating of the club’s hierarchy was at a low only previously witnessed when Chris Roberts nearly ran it into the ground in the mid-2000s when Torquay United Supporters’ Trust and the fans began to mobilise in late 2023.

A sit-in was planned for the home game against Tonbridge Angels in December and a bizarre 11pm statement released by the club stirred the pot. “The club will not tolerate any action taken by groups to threaten or intimidate others, and appropriate action will therefore be taken on all individuals caught participating in any such activities,” it read.

In the end, the sit-in was a bit of a damp squib, with the team winning the game and most people going home happy about that. But the threat of the sit-in did more than a sit-in itself. The club’s board answered questions in an hour-long video that was uploaded to the website – and change was promised, but barely delivered when all of a sudden Mr Osborne pulled the plug, saying the club would be put into administration if a buyer didn’t come forward soon.

Osborne wrote: “It is with sincere regret that I advise that circumstances beyond my control during the last five weeks have brought me to the position that I am unable to continue financial support for the club and I have today filed on behalf of the directors, an intention to appoint an administrator to the club and company.

“The prospect of creating a new stadium and commercial facility was the driver for the investment, the excitement to deliver something truly transformative for the club and Torbay.” I wonder if Mr Osborne is keeping an eye on the club now – and seeing what REAL transformation looks like?

Administrators were appointed and six weeks later the club was inevitably plunged into administration and it was mission critical. But with Gary Johnson stepping down and Aaron Downes given the role of caretaker manager, fans suddenly started coming back.

Torquay fans and fans of other clubs put their hands in their pockets and money was raised to keep Torquay going. The battle to stay in the league was won with a game to spare, and in the summer another battle was won by the Bryn Consortium, at first disregarded by the administrators in favour of another set of bidders (who remained anonymous) and then was given a chance to show it meant business.

With TUST and Neil Warnock on board, the Bryn Consortium showed its face, made the right noises, and got the deal over the line. The press and the people met the new board at the Livermead House Hotel, where Paul Wotton was announced as the new manager. The feeling in the room that day was almost celebratory – and the positivity buzzed about the room, as it did around the stadium when Plymouth Argyle came to Plainmoor for a sell-out friendly in July after Wotton had put together his squad of new players.

Last week, the 2-0 win against Farnborough took the Gulls to the top of the National South table – and this Christmas fans will flock to Plainmoor for a big New Year's Day game against Truro City, Wotton’s former club. Despite playing down the significance of being top when there is still half a season to go, the manager does understand why it is such a big thing for the fans.

Speaking at last week’s press conference, in the newly christened David Thomas Media Suite, Wotton said: “It is slow progression, slow and steady. We are not going to win every game between now and the end of the season, football isn’t like that and there will be highs and lows.

“The fans have had a rough time. Again, as I have said before, that’s nothing to do with me and I never comment on that because I wasn’t here. You have got no right to talk about it if you weren’t here – but the fans have had a tough time.

“So let them enjoy it, 100%, but football fans are knowledgeable people as well. They know it’s not going to be all sunshine and rainbows all the way through until the end of the season. It just doesn’t work like that, it never will, so enjoy it while it is there – and hopefully it lasts.”

Wotton added: “There is a tremendous feeling of togetherness at the football club at the moment. That’s for many, many reasons and long may it continue.”

Happy Christmas Gulls fans – isn’t it great to be a supporter of such a progressive club. What a year!