Torquay United's Difficult Change for EFL Return

Torquay United boss Jimmy Ball says “difficult” change is the only way the club will finally end its 12-year exile from the English Football League.

The Gulls are drifting in National League South, 19th in the table with just one win from their opening six games, and Monday’s flat 2-0 defeat at Farnham Town only deepened the gloom.

Ball did not hide behind the result. He pointed straight at a turbulent summer and a squad he feels has been unsettled from the moment pre-season began.

“There has been a lot of disruption,” he told BBC Radio Devon, laying the blame on “players having their heads turned” by offers and interest from elsewhere.

For a club that has twice gone close in the past two seasons, the drop-off has been stark. Torquay finished third last year and reached the play-off final, only to lose 3-2 to Hornchurch. The year before, they ended the campaign in second and still fell at the semi-final stage.

The near-misses hang over Plainmoor. So does the calendar: 12 long years outside the EFL.

“The truth is it has been a long time since Torquay have played league football, and yes, the last two seasons have been close, but it’s ultimately failed,” said Ball, who replaced Paul Wotton in March.

“That’s not to blame anyone, but I was brought in to change that and sometimes change is difficult and slower than we would like – but it is absolutely necessary.”

The slow start has naturally rattled supporters. Asked if fans were right to be worried, Ball pushed back on the idea of alarm.

“I don’t know of any scenario when panicking is beneficial,” he said. “I’m not playing down the start, because it is not acceptable, but I believe there has been a lot of disruption.”

He hinted at issues that have never reached the stands.

“I can’t tell you what’s going on behind the scenes, which has been caused through players having their heads turned since day one of pre-season and players not quite being at it,” he admitted.

What he did make crystal clear was his demand for total buy-in.

Ball said he wants every player “100% committed” to Torquay United and ready “to sacrifice and give everything” for the club. Anything less, and they will not be part of his plans.

“I would love to tell the fans everything but you simply can’t,” he added. “You have to deal with it the best you can and hope the men you’re putting out on to the pitch are 100% committed to Torquay United Football Club.”

There is little time to lick wounds. Third-placed Folkestone Invicta, unbeaten in their first five matches, arrive at Plainmoor on Saturday.

For Ball and Torquay, the need for that “difficult” change will be measured not in words, but in how they respond against one of the division’s early pacesetters.