Torquay United's Jimmy Ball Calls for Embracing Change
Torquay United boss Jimmy Ball says the club must embrace “difficult” change if it is finally to drag itself back into the English Football League after a 12-year exile.
The Gulls are drifting in the wrong direction. Nineteenth in National League South. One win from six. And a flat 2-0 defeat at Farnham Town on Bank Holiday Monday has only sharpened the anxiety around Plainmoor.
Ball isn’t hiding from it. But he is pointing to a messy summer as a key factor.
The manager, who took over from Paul Wotton in March, says Torquay have endured “a lot of disruption” during the transfer window, with players’ “heads turned” by offers and interest from elsewhere. That, he believes, has cut into the unity and focus he needs.
He told BBC Radio Devon he wants every player “100% committed” to Torquay United and prepared “to sacrifice and give everything” for the club.
The frustration comes from how close Torquay have been. Last season they finished third and reached the play-off final, only to lose 3-2 to Hornchurch. The year before, they ended the campaign in second but fell at the semi-final stage. Two near-misses, no promotion, and the wait for league football goes on.
“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,” Ball said. “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 inevitably rattled supporters. Asked if fans were right to be worried, Ball pushed back on the idea of panic, while making it clear he is not satisfied with what he has seen.
“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.
“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 admits there is more going on than can be shared publicly.
Ball said he “would love to tell the fans everything but you simply can’t”.
“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,” he added.
There is little time to breathe. Third-placed Folkestone Invicta, unbeaten in their opening five matches, arrive at Plainmoor on Saturday. For Ball and Torquay, it already feels like the kind of early-season test that reveals who is truly ready to fight for the club’s future.
