Torquay United manager Paul Wotton says it’s ‘fantastic’ to be involved in a promotion battle - and it is one that should be ‘embraced’.
Because Torquay ’s game at Chippenham Town was postponed on Tuesday night, and other teams in the promotion race played, the Gulls dropped to fifth in the National League South table.

But with new leaders Worthing three points clear at the top, the next five teams - Boreham Wood, Dorking Wanderers, Maidstone United, Torquay and Eastbourne Borough - are all bunched-up on 52 points. Wotton’s former club, Truro City, are the final club in the top seven - in the final play-off place - with 49 points.

With Torquay at Maidstone tomorrow, and Worthing and Boreham Wood both in FA Trophy action, it will shuffle about again - but remain tight.

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While wishing for more than two points from Torquay’s last three games - all of which on another day they might have won - Wotton is excited by it all. “The top six or seven is extremely close,” he said. “It’s going to change again, and it will change an awful lot between now and the last game of the season, definitely.

“What I would say on the league table is ... I wasn’t too concerned when we were top and I am not concerned now we are fifth. There are too many games to go, too many points to play for, everyone has got to play everyone - we have got to play three of them now in the next three games.

“What I would say is it’s exciting. It’s fantastic. Do you want to be in a relegation battle or a promotion battle? Embrace it. I have been very fortunate in my career as a player and a manager to be involved in title-winning teams and promotion-winning teams, more than most people. It’s a fantastic time to be involved in a football club. It’s a challenge, it’s there to be embraced and let’s have a go at it.”

In the next three games, Torquay will play Maidstone, Eastbourne (home) and Worthing (away) - with further games against Hornchurch (home), Chelmsford City (away) and Weston-super-Mare to come in February. March will begin with a home game against Boreham Wood.

It’s going to be tough - but with new recruits Matt Jay and Manny Ilesanmi looking really good in the surprise 1-0 defeat by Hampton & Richmond Borough on Saturday, the squad is currently strong for the run-in. Key defender Jordan Dyer could be back for this one, but Jay Foulston’s injury may need a little more time.

“It will be an incredibly tough game,” said Wotton. “George Elokobi is a good manager and play a certain way. They are physical. They are a threat from set pieces and they have a long throw on both sides - which has become very common in this league, in football actually.

“But we are in a good place. We are fine. We feel and I feel we should have had nine points from the last three games. We haven’t, we have got two. It’s not the end of the world, it’s fine. If that’s the so-called blip, then fine.”