Torquay takeover completed by local consortium
A consortium of local businessmen has taken over financially troubled Torquay United.
The club had been in administration after former owner Clarke Osborne could no longer fund the National League South side following the withdrawal of property development partners.
The Bryn Consortium of Michael Westcott, Tom Allen, Mark Bowes-Cavanagh, Rob Hawes and Simon Robinson have taken over.
Torquay United Supporters' Trust say they will continue talks about a possible investment in the club.
"During the past week, The Bryn Consortium has emerged as the party that can provide the best prospects for both the club and its creditors in the immediate and longer term," a statement from the club's administrators read.
BBC Sport understands that the consortium was not the original preferred bidder of the administrators - the identity of the other bidder has not been revealed.
The club finished the season 18th in the sixth tier - their lowest finish since joining the EFL in 1927 - after having a total of 11 points docked.
Ten points were taken away after administration plans were announced in February and an extra point was docked for an ineligible player.
They are the fourth group to own the club since 2007.
A consortium of local businesspeople backed by lottery winner Paul Bristow took control, but Bristow's widow sold the club in the summer of 2015 to a group of supporters following relegation from the EFL a year earlier.
They were unable to fund the club for long, with Osborne taking control at Plainmoor in December 2016.
Under his guidance the Gulls were twice relegated to National League South, although they also nearly won promotion back to the EFL.
Torquay were beaten on penalties by Hartlepool United in the 2021 National League promotion final.
Analysis
Brent Pilnick, BBC Sport
The Bryn Consortium is named after the police dog that famously bit Torquay player Jim McNichol during the final match of the 1986-87 season when the Gulls staved off relegation thanks to a goal scored in the stoppage time caused by the incident.
The club have dropped two tiers since then and the consortium must now decide how best to bring it back on an even footing.
Westcott had talked about the possibility of some of the squad being part-time - this season the side had been full-time.
But their main job is to try and ensure losses of almost £100,000 a month can be stemmed.
Most fans will see this as a good day for the club - Osborne rarely attended matches and was keen on selling Plainmoor and building a new stadium.
The new group are fans of the club and intend to build it sustainably.
