Torquay United: Chris Hargreaves still waiting for contract renewals

Hargreaves took over as Torquay manager in January

Torquay boss Chris Hargreaves is no closer to knowing if anyone offered contracts by the club will sign.

Lee Mansell, Martin Rice, Michael Poke, Damon Lathrope and Niall Thompson were all offered new deals last month.

"Their wages have been dramatically reduced because the club couldn't sustain that," Hargreaves said.

"If someone else comes in and offers them double what I've offered, then good luck to them and we shake hands and off they go and play elsewhere."

Skipper Mansell is the longest-serving player at the club, while goalkeepers Poke and Rice both played roles as Torquay were relegated from the Football League last season.

Lathrope returned to the squad after Alan Knill was sacked in January having been sent out on loan, while 20-year-old winger Thompson played four times for Torquay last season and was on loan at non-league Worcester City.

Hargreaves made his first new signing earlier this week in while striker Ashley Yeoman agreed a new contract last month.

The club cancelled Nathan Craig's contract earlier this week, but have had little interest in any of the other eight players on the transfer list.

"I've had no contact from clubs about them as yet," Hargreaves said.

"I wouldn't have expected to because clubs will wait as long as they can so they don't have to pay their wages through the summer."

However, Hargreaves says he is confident ahead of the new season, with a number of players joining the club on a trial basis and negotiations for some permanent signings also ongoing.

"I've got five players joining me for pre-season that, had I had a bigger budget, they'd be signed now," he said.

"But because I've persuaded them that it's the right thing to do, to come and try us out, they're joining me for pre-season, which I'm really pleased about.

"One lad has been released from a Championship club and I've persuaded him to come down.

"There's another lad I've asked down who's said 'yes' is a very experienced defender."