Torquay to use title disappointment to fuel season

Paul Wotton took over at Torquay United last summer after leaving Truro City

Paul Wotton says his Torquay United side will use their disappointment at last season to fuel their new campaign.

The Gulls missed out on the National League South title on goal difference to Truro City.

They went on to lose in the play-off semi-finals after a disappointing 1-0 loss at home to Boreham Wood.

The Torquay boss begins his second season in charge having strengthened his squad as the club aims to win promotion having been saved from financial problems by a local consortium last year.

"We have no choice but to start fresh. Has there been a line drawn in it? I think so," Wotton told BBC Sport.

"But then you can look at it a different way as well, that the players who were here last year, they didn't like that feeling.

"I didn't like that feeling of missing out on the league title, and then having such a disappointing game against Boreham Wood in the play-offs.

"So there's a feeling of putting that right, which is great, and the new players who have come in didn't have that so they've brought a freshness to it.

"I don't know if you ever draw a line under something until you achieve what you set out to achieve, hopefully we can do that."

Torquay's players were left dejected after losing their play-off semi-final to Boreham Wood

Torquay have strengthened their squad with a number of experienced new signings including Matt Worthington, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Jordan Thomas, Munashe Sundire, Sonny Fish and Louis Dennis.

Wotton is hopeful his new arrivals will help the club, especially against teams lower down the league that Torquay struggled to break down at times last season.

"I think recruitment-wise we've recruited those types of players, players who will take the football, players who are brave enough to take it.

"We've had six weeks to work on stuff, hopefully we can see signs of that on Saturday.

"At times we might have to be very, very patient, all of us, myself included.

"It might be 0-0 at 75, 80 minutes. We're hoping it's not, but you need players who can just keep going and going and going, and you need players who can come off the bench and make a difference as well.

"I think we've addressed that, but only time will tell."

New captain Worthington 'sets standards'

Matt Worthington has taken over at Torquay United captain

One of the Gulls' biggest signings is midfielder Worthington.

He agreed a three-year contract last month after switching from Oldham Athletic.

He has previously won the National League South title - captaining Yeovil Town to promotion in the 2023-24 season.

Wotton has given the 27-year-old the Torquay captaincy and hopes his experience can drive Torquay to promotion:

"He's played at a higher level, he's well respected by his peers, he's a good talker, he knows football and he acts in the right manner that a captain should.

"He sets standards in training and also he's vocal on the pitch.

"He's someone that I've had an interest in ever since I got the job at Torquay, someone I thought would fit the bill perfectly."