Torquay United

We weren't good enough - Buckle
Torquay United manager Paul Buckle said his side were not good enough to beat Ebbsfleet United in the FA Trophy final at Wembley. Former Gulls player Chris McPhee got the only goal to see Torquay's bright end to the season dashed. "It weren't for a lack of effort and it weren't for a lack of organisation. But there's a lot to be thankful for this season, there really is," Buckle said. "We weren't quite good enough on the day to win the trophy," he added. Just a week before the FA Trophy final, Torquay beat Devon rivals Exeter City in the Blue Square Premier play-off semi final first leg. But a 4-1 defeat at home in the second leg, where they conceded three goals in the final 20 minutes, followed by Saturday's FA Trophy defeat, has left the club with nothing to show for their first season in the Blue Square Premier. "We've gone very, very close. It's very disappointing that we haven't won anything. "I'm sure our supporters will come back stronger like I will and like the players will," he told SSB.

Green move shows 'little respect'
Oxford United say striker Matt Green had twice verbally agreed to join them before a last-minute decision to sign for Blue Square Premier rivals Torquay. "I don't appreciate anyone showing Oxford United so little respect," said U's manager Darren Patterson. "Fortunately we have other targets, and have continued to talk to other strikers who are as good or better." Green, 21, who had two loan spells with the U's last season, has admitted he joined Torquay for financial reasons. Patterson explained that he felt the offer made to Green was a realistic one, given the injury problems the striker had experienced. "In truth we were prepared to take a gamble on Matt and had made what we felt was a very fair offer considering the issues with his knees. "He never was able to train during the week for much of the time he was with us, and his medical problems had been fairly well publicised. "The report we had regarding Matt from a top knee specialist wasn't exactly glowing, and that was reflected when we made Matt our offer. "There was a little bit of negotiation but then Matt verbally accepted the offer. He said he was coming in to sign so we had a meeting set up. "His agent was there, everything was in order, but he phoned to say he was joining Torquay." 'Ambitious person' Green, who scored 10 goals while on loan at the U's, praised Patterson. "Darren Patterson is a very ambitious person, like myself. "He has got to do the best that he can with his budget and I am sure that he will." Patterson reassured supporters that he has not been concentrating on signing Green alone. "There are some very exciting players who would love the chance to play here but we will be patient and make sure they are the right players for this club. "We will continue to build a squad that is totally united for the coming season."

Buckle feels Gulls are stronger
Torquay United manager Paul Buckle feels the squad he has assembled for the new Blue Square Premier campaign is stronger than ever. Buckle has brought in eight new faces, including Lee Hodges from Plymouth and Forest Green's Michael Brough, and has got rid of Lee Phillips and Kevin Hill. He told BBC Radio Devon: "I think my job was to improve it from last season. "It was very difficult because we had a fantastic season, but I honestly believe we've done that." Buckle says he has faith that the new men brought into the squad will push Torquay back towards the Football League. "I trust the ones we've brought in. We've done our homework on them," he added.

Buckle tells Torquay to improve
Torquay United manager Paul Buckle has told his side they must improve their form after their latest slip in the Blue Square Premier. The Gulls, who are 18th in the table, ended their losing streak after drawing 1-1 with York City on Thursday, but led until the 87th minute. "We need to be better, it's as simple as that," Buckle told Radio Devon. "That's a game we should have won again. That's the last two games we should have won and we all know it." But Buckle said his players did put the effort in on the pitch. "I thought the application and desire was there for all to see and I felt we deserved the win. But at the moment one slip and we seem to be getting punished."

Buckle delighted at Gulls victory
Torquay United manager Paul Buckle was full of praise for his players after Tuesday's 2-1 win at Forest Green. United lost goalkeeper Michael Poke early on to injury and striker Tim Sills had to go between with posts. But after Matt Green's injury-time winner Buckle saw his side move up to 15th in the Blue Square Premier. "I've never been involved in a game like that," Buckle told BBC Radio Devon. "Everything went wrong tonight except the goals we scored." He added: "The character has been there for all to see. I'm delighted for the people who scored and it just shows that if you work hard and keep believing you get rewards."

Buckle happy with Gulls victory
Torquay United manager Paul Buckle was delighted with the way his side played as they beat Stevenage Borough 3-0 at Plainmoor on Saturday. All of United's goals came in the second half of the game, but Buckle felt they could have had more. "We were disappointed to be going in at half time 0-0, we felt that we had dominated the first half," he told Radio Devon. "We played some good stuff first half and their keeper kept them in it."

Boss says Gulls deserved to win
Torquay manager Paul Buckle said his side deserved their victory over Ebbsfleet United in the Blue Square Premier on Saturday. Goals from Nicky Wroe and Wayne Carlisle handed the Gulls a 2-0 win as they stretched their unbeaten run to nine games. Buckle told Radio Devon: "I felt today that we really deserved to get the three points. "If I'm going to be greedy we really should have won by a lot more."

Robertson will need ankle surgery
Torquay United central defender Chris Robertson will have to have surgery on his ankle. The 21-year-old has ruptured the main supporting ligament in his ankle meaning that manager Paul Buckle is running out of options at the back. With Chris Todd also out after a hamstring injury, Buckle has few options left at the back. "Two key players in a key position isn't great. We are looking at that area at the moment," he said.

Gulls squad shocked at Todd news
Torquay United captain Chris Hargreaves says the Gulls squad has been hit hard by the news of Chris Todd's diagnosis with leukaemia. The 27-year-old Welshman told the team before their 4-1 win over Lewes at Plainmoor on Tuesday night. "The lads were really devastated and some couldn't come to terms with it," Hargreaves told Radio Devon. "It was just silent, it was a really poignant moment for Toddy and themselves," he added. Torquay set a new club record of 15 games without defeat on Tuesday, and equalled the club record of eight successive victories. "It was extremely quiet in the changing room before the game. The stereo normally goes on but I think out of respect no-one wanted to press that button. "It's a massive shock and you just can't find the words for it, it's just so out of the ordinary," Hargreaves said. The team waved Todd's number six shirt after Tim Sills' opening goal on Monday in tribute to their friend and the skipper added that the way Todd has taken the news is an inspiration for the rest of the side. "Having seen him and the way he is, you can't get the lad down, he's an absolutely top lad. "It's been really refreshing for everyone to see how he's taken it and the sort of character he is. "That's why it hit people so hard, because he is such a great lad. You can't come across a stronger lad than him." And Hargreaves has no doubt that he will overcome his illness: "He's a real fit lad and if anyone's going to fight this, it's going to be him, and everyone's there for him."

Bevan extends loan spell at Gulls
Torquay United have extended the loan of Shrewsbury Town goalkeeper Scott Bevan for a third month. Bevan joined the Gulls in September after regular goalkeeper Michael Poke - also a loan signing - was injured. The 27-year-old played in Saturday's FA Cup win over Oxford and will be available for at least six more games. The former Southampton and MK Dons keeper has made 12 appearances for Torquay, conceding just eight goals in the Gulls' record unbeaten run.

Sills signs new Torquay contract
Torquay striker Tim Sills has signed a new contract to stay at Plainmoor until the end of next season. The 29-year-old joined the Gulls in the summer of 2007 from Hereford United. So far this season he has netted 10 goals and he also scored 20 last season, including the 'Goal of the Season', as Torquay made the play-offs. "The team has had a very good spell since I signed and I'm looking forward to more good times in the near future," he told the club website.

Torquay regret at missed chances
Torquay defender Steve Woods has said his side felt they could have beaten Coventry City in Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round clash at Plainmoor. The Gulls dominated much of the second half, with Woods guilty of missing with a header before Coventry snatched a 1-0 win with three minutes to go. "We feel we should have won really and that's with all due respect to Coventry," Woods told Radio Devon. "We had good chances to win but unfortunately we didn't take them." Woods added: "We hung on in there for periods during the first half but in the second half we got on the front foot and dominated. "Against a team like Coventry they only need one chance and they can punish you, which is how it turned out."

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