Welcome to the supporters, officials and players from Torquay United for this afternoon's match at the Trade Recruitment Stadium. It was not many League games ago that we last met here (although it was nearly five months ago) that saw us book our place in the Blue Square Play-Offs for last season.

Since that exciting two-nil win, who would have thought that both teams would suffer defeat at the hands of Exeter City, Cambridge United would have a new Manager and lose a Chairman, or that Torquay would win only one of their first seven games this season?

Such is the unpredictability of football but we can be assured that our visitors will be working extremely hard to get back towards the top of the table.

Last Saturday's win against a strongly fancied Wrexham side was a well-deserved victory all round for the team. It was particularly pleasing to see Danny Brown, Mark Convery and Chris Holroyd make their first full 90 minutes of the season.

Special praise should go to the group of volunteers and club staff who worked late on the Friday evening and then from the early hours of Saturday, to clear up the water that after heavy rainfall had made its way into areas under the Main Stand. Without their success with this operation the game would not have been able to go ahead. For once in these situations, their efforts were rewarded with three points.

Over the past few seasons, there have been a number of enquiries about the bricks and paviours bought during the Redevelopment Appeal in 2000. Money paid for them were donations to the Abbey Stadium Redevelopment Trust and paid into a separate account to the Football Club.

This money was donated for the use of the redevelopment of the football ground. That is what it was used for; with the building of the South Stand and various improvements around the ground since then.

There is still money in the Trust account totalling over £11,500, which I am told would cover the cost of buying and laying of the bricks and paviours. The issue is the non-appearance of the bricks and paviours following subsequent decisions not to proceed with the North End Stand.

As we stand there are three options. Firstly, that we put them behind the North Stand, or some other place with the stadium, as it stands now. Secondly, to wait until the ground situation is resolved i.e. if we relocate, then put them at the new ground. The third option is to disband the Redevelopment Trust, with the monies going to 'charitable trusts as shall serve charitable community needs in the domain of football' as required by the Trust Deeds in such an instance.

It is the second option that is being followed at present whilst a resolution is found for the Clubs' long term future, be it here or on another site. I fully understand fans' unease about not having them yet at the ground as they were promised, and appreciate their patience.

There was a separate scheme whereby money was loaned to the Trust in exchange for a five-year season ticket. This money passed to the Club and assisted financing the South Stand when it was built. As such, at that point the liability for the loan repayment moved to the Club.

When the Football Club went into Administration, the lenders became creditors of the Club. They received 19p in the £ as did the other creditors. The distinction is that theirs was a loan and not a donation.

Back to today's game, let's get behind the team for another three points. Then, this coming Wednesday 17th, come along and watch the Youth Team in Ridgeons League action at home to Wisbech kicking off at 7.45pm.


Brian Attmore

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