Torquay United

Torquay United
Gulls quartet told they can leave Torquay United have released four players following their relegation from League One. Zema Abbey, Paul Jarvie, Lee Canoville and Stuart Boardley have been told they will not be offered new deals. Adebayo Akinfenwa, Matt Hockley, Martin Phillips and Alex Russell have been offered new deals but midfielder Russell, 32, is expected to move on. Nick Skinner may stay on non-contract terms and Darren Garner has been offered a 12-month deal.

Bateson resigned to Russell exit
Torquay chairman Mike Bateson says he is resigned to losing out-of-contract midfielder Alex Russell in the summer. Bateson said: "We've made him an offer but I don't think this is anything to do with money. He said at Christmas he wanted to stay in League One. "Selfishly, I have to live in hope that no League One club comes in for him but that's unlikely." Russell, 32, has said he wants to play at as high a level as possible and does not want to drop down to League Two. He told the Herald Express: "My chances of playing in the Premiership and probably the Championship have gone. "But having progressed to what is still the third division (League One), that's where I want to stay." Russell has been at Plainmoor for four seasons since joining from Cambridge - but was unable to prevent the Gulls' relegation this season.

Bateson sceptical of loan system
Chairman Mike Bateson admits that he has doubts about how useful the loan system is to clubs like Torquay. "Too often we take an unfit player and turn him round, give him league games, only for him to be returned home," the Gulls chief told his club's website. "On balance, the system is probably in favour of the lending club. "Their player gets competitive football at little or no cost to them, and they are able to monitor him without risking him in their own league matches." Torquay took 11 players on loan during 2004/05, including striker Leon Constantine who subsequently signed permanently. However, they became involved in a dispute with Gillingham over keeper Bertrand Bossu - while Phil Barnes and Paul Robinson were recalled from loans by their parent clubs because of injuries.

Hockley accepts new Torquay deal
Torquay defender Matt Hockley has accepted the club's offer of a new one-year contract. Paignton-born Hockley, 22, has made 150 first-team appearances for his local side since his debut in November 2000, scoring nine times. Meanwhile, Chairman Mike Bateson and boss Leroy Rosenior have had talks with the agent of striker Adebayo Akinfenwa, who has also been offered a new deal. "We hope to resolve matters next week," Bateson told the Gulls' website. "Also, several players have been invited down for pre-season training and the chance to earn a contract - while talks are continuing with several others and their agents."

Bateson reveals price of the drop
Chairman Mike Bateson has revealed that Torquay will receive £50,000 less from the Football League next season after their relegation from League One. "The actual difference is £100,000," Bateson told his club's website. "But League Two clubs are receiving £50,000 per season in the compensation package from the FA for giving a second relegation (to the Conference). "The amount we will receive is £284,000 - this is reduced from last season's League Two figure of £299,000."

City targeting midfielder Russell
Bristol City boss Brian Tinnion would like to sign Torquay's out-of-contract midfielder Alex Russell. The 32-year-old has said he does not want to drop down to League Two after the Gulls were relegated. "I have spoken to Alex. He's a good professional and leads by example," Tinnion told the club's website. "I know there are four other clubs in our division speaking to him and three more in the division below, so we are not about to sign him."

Gulls hopeful over Akinfenwa deal
Torquay chairman Mike Bateson is confident leading scorer Adebayo Akinfenwa will sign a new contract. The 23-year-old netted 16 times last season, attracting interest from other clubs, but Bateson feels he will stay. "Bayo's agent tells me they've advised him he needs more time with us rather than looking at alleged approaches from clubs in all three leagues," he said. "They aim to meet Bayo this week so hopefully there will be some positive movement in that direction."

Russell agrees Bristol City move
Alex Russell admitted Bristol City's size and potential was the reason he agreed to join the club on a Bosman. The 32-year-old will officially join the Robins on a two-year deal when his Torquay contract expires on 1 July. The midfielder told City's website: "It is the right move at the right time for me and (City manager) Brian Tinnion didn't have to sell the club to me. "You can't be happy with mid-table at a club like this aand the best way to get success is if you push for the top."

Russell has Rosenior's blessing
Torquay boss Leroy Rosenior is convinced midfielder Alex Russell will be a hit at Bristol City. Russell left Plainmoor on a free transfer following Torquay's agonising last-day relegation. Rosenior told the Gulls' website: "He would have gone even if we had stayed up, he deserves to play for a big club. "I'm absolutely delighted he's gone to a bigger club, I tell all my players they should be ambitious and want to play for a bigger club." Peterborough owner Barry Fry claimed Russell turned down a chance to join Posh in favour of joining Bristol City. Fry offered Russell a "big offer" to become new boss Mark Wright's first signing since his appointment. The Posh owner said: "Mark identified Alex as a player he desperately wanted to bring to the club. "We both spoke to him last weekend but Alex decided to accept another offer from Bristol City."

Gulls are unhappy with Akinfenwa
Boss Leroy Rosenior has hit out after press reports claimed striker Adebayo Akinfenwa was set to leave Torquay. "I phoned his agent, who tells me the story is a surprise to him," Rosenior told the club's website. "But I'd have thought he at least owed us the courtesy of a formal response to our offer rather than having to read about it in a newspaper. "There is a correct and professional way of doing things, and this action falls short of those standards." The 23-year-old former Doncaster player, who scored 16 goals last season as Torquay were relegated, is out of contract this summer. He has been offered a new contract by the Gulls - who would be entitled to a fee if he moves, because he is under 24. Chairman Mike Bateson added: "This is disappointing, but not unexpected. "There has been some prevarication by the player and his agent, but we gave him the benefit of the doubt considering that he was on holiday. "This action by Akinfenwa tells me that he has a long way to go before he can truly call himself a football professional. "We have always dealt with our players in a courteous and honourable manner, and it is galling he should respond in this way without even a phone call to me or Leroy. "We have set a price of £300,000 - any club wishing to sign him must pay up or have the fee set by tribunal."

Garner agrees move to Plainmoor
Former Rotherham midfielder Darren Garner has agreed a one-year contract with Torquay, with an option of a second year at Plainmoor. The 33-year-old Plymouth-born player ended last season on loan with the Gulls, and has since left the Millers. Meanwhile, midfielder Martin Phillips, 29, is set to put pen to paper on a new two-year deal to stay with Torquay. But right-back Lee Canoville, 24, has left the club to sign a two-year contract with Boston.

Rosenior to look at new players
Torquay United boss Leroy Rosenior will be stepping up his attempts to add to his squad in the next few days. The Gulls boss said: "The chairman and I have numerous meetings planned for next week and the week after, when players return from their holidays. "We can then get them down here and see what they have to offer us. "It is not just their fitness I need to check out, but also their ability to travel down here, or move down here, should the need arise."

Gulls and Akinfenwa in deadlock
Adebayo Akinfenwa could remain a Torquay player after Bristol City failed to agree a deal with Gulls' chairman Mike Bateson. Swansea pulled out on learning Torquay will command a fee for out-of-contract Akinfenwa, who is under 24. Bateson told Torquay's website: "I had a chat with the Bristol City chairman and there's no deal on the table. "They're neither prepared to pay cash or risk a tribunal decision, and I'm not aware of any other interest." The development is the latest twist in a long-running saga over the unsettled striker who had been told by Bateson he has no future at Plainmoor. Both Akinfenwa and his agent were criticised by Bateson and Gulls boss Leroy Rosenior. Torquay have offered Akinfenwa - who scored 16 goals last season as the Gulls were relegated - a new deal which he has refused to sign.

Torquay hold talks with Connell
Torquay boss Leroy Rosenior has held talks with out-of-contract Bournemouth striker Alan Connell. Connell has been offered a 12-month contract by the Cherries, but has yet to put pen to paper. The 22-year-old may be tempted by the prospect of regular first-team football at Plainmoor. The Torquay boss confirmed he had spoken to Connell but told Gulls website: "He's just one of a number of players on my list."

Ex-Lincoln defender Carr mourned
Former Lincoln City defender David Carr has died at the age of 48 after a battle against cancer. Born in Aylesham, Carr began his career with Margate - making his first team debut at 15 - before moving to Luton. After 43 appearances for the Hatters, he joined Lincoln for £20,500 and wore their colours 199 times, winning promotion from Division Four in 1981. He went on to serve Torquay, Maidstone, Dover, Folkestone, Sittingbourne and Thanet, and was player-boss at Hythe.

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