Remaining signings I’d like Torquay United to make

After only inheriting one contracted player (Austen Booth), it is fair to say that the Torquay United squad is coming together nicely.

Manager Paul Wotton, Assistant Manager Mike Edwards and Director of Football Neil Warnock have been hard at work recruiting new players, with a total of eight announced signings.

The Gulls still have a fair bit of work to do, however, to their squad. They are still – by my reckoning – a good nine players light, with a left-back and a left centre-back having been signed but yet to be announced.

With that in mind, I take a look at where I feel Torquay United still need to add and identify some targets that they should go for.

What do Torquay United need to sign?

Potential Targets

Backup Goalkeeper – McIntosh Boyd (Bristol City)

With new recruit James Hamon a shoe-in for the number one jersey, any further additions that Paul Wotton makes to the goalkeeping department will no doubt be as a backup. As a result, I think that it is likely that Wotton opts for a younger and less experienced player that they can develop without the pressure of having the gloves as first-choice. One player that I think they should look at is former Bristol City man McIntosh Boyd.

Boyd was let go by The Robins at the end of the season, having failed to make a move into the first-team picture at Ashton Gate.

The majority of the signings that Wotton has made this summer are players that are either based in the South West or with ties to the area, and that is one of the key attractions to McIntosh Boyd in that he is based in Exeter; as such, there is little need for relocation.

Right Wing-Back – Ryan Jones (Bristol Rovers)

Finley Craske has re-signed for Torquay United this summer after a season where he was affected badly by injury. I am fairly confident that Paul Wotton will have done the level of due diligence that he needs prior to offering him a new deal to remain at the club, but I would personally like to see some competition for him on the right-hand side. As such, one player that I think The Gulls should look to sign is former Bristol Rovers youngster Ryan Jones.

Jones was released at the end of the campaign by The Gas, and he is a player that I’ve been impressed with when I have seen him play for Hungerford Town. He spent last season with National League side Bromley, albeit didn’t see that many minutes, but I think that there is a talented player there and would be a good capture for the sixth tier as a progressive, technically-competent option at wing-back.

He is only 22 years of age, but he has a number of good loan spells under his belt and some decent first-team experience. He is capable of playing as a defender or as a midfielder, thus on the one hand ideal for the wing-back role with his ability on the ball while coupled with his defensive attributions, and on the other hand gives Wotton a versatile option.

Centre Back #1 – Jordan Dyer (Bath City)

Torquay United need to strengthen their options at centre-back, that in despite of having already signed Sam Dreyer, retaining Austen Booth and having agreed a deal for an extra left centre-back. One player that has already been talked about as a potential option for The Gulls and who I wouldn’t be adverse to seeing arrive at Plainmoor is defender Jordan Dyer.

Dyer is out of contract this summer with fellow National League South side Bath City, and he is yet to agree new terms to remain with The Romans. And, with City having already gone out and signed Nick Grimes and retaining both Jack Batten and Kieran Parselle, Dyer may – rightly – feel that this summer is the perfect time in which to move on in favour of a fresh new challenge.

The former Exeter City man is a centre-back by trade, but he is capable of being used as a right-back and in midfield, and so would be another that offers boss Paul Wotton with versatility. The fact that Torquay United have a few players in their group that are prone to injuries or have not played a great deal of games – namely Finley Craske and Oscar Threlkeld – Dyer’s ability to cover at wing-back and at the base of midfield makes him ideal.

Centre Back #2 – Ed Palmer (Truro City)

The next centre-back option on this list, and one that will come as little surprise to those reading, is former Truro City defender Ed Palmer. He was under contract for the new season, but recently agreed to pay up his contract with The Tinners in favour of becoming a free agent (likely with a deal already agreed elsewhere) and the expectation is that Palmer will indeed link up with his former boss and be a Torquay United player.

In terms of geography, this makes a lot of sense. Orginally from Devon and now a barber in the area, Palmer used to be in the academy system with Torquay United and so is someone that has a connection to the football club. I would start by saying that when analysing whether or not Palmer would be a good option for The Gulls, I think it is important to remember that the player that he was for The Gulls last as a youngster to the one that he is now are night and day. As such, it is better-placed to make a judgement off the back of his track record for Taunton Town and more specifically in the last few years with The Tinners, during which he has shown himself to be a capable centre-back.

Palmer is a player who perhaps defies his size and stature; as he showed in the festive fixtures against Torquay United last term when in a Truro City shirt, he is comfortable on the ball, can step out into midfield, and he showed himself to be a capable progressive option in the backline in making runs from deep, overlapping the midfielders and getting forward to contribute with neat passing, delivery into the box and an ability to get shots off from range. In terms of what Torquay United had last year with Ross Marshall when he was at his best in making the runs down the right-hand side and contributing in an offensive sense, I think that Palmer provides that.

It makes a lot of sense that he is to follow Paul Wotton to Torquay United, and it is only a matter of time before the deal is announced.

Centre Back #3 – Sam Bone (Maidstone United)

Another centre-back that I would be looking at if I was in Paul Wotton’s position is former Maidstone United defender Sam Bone. A key part of their side as they got into the play-offs and had a successful FA Cup run, Bone is a player that I like and was a tad surprised to see him released at the end of the 2023-24 campaign. As such, I’d make a move for him.

Paul Wotton prides himself on getting players that are going to work hard for the team and can run through brick walls for the supporters, and Bone is someone that has always struck me as being a good athlete, a committed and robust type that isn’t afraid to commit in the challenge and put his head in where it hurts; in many ways a no-nonsense, out-and-out defender the like of which The Gulls did not really have last term.

He may well look for a move that gives him the benefit of regular minutes at his next club, but if he is open to the move then I think it is one that Torquay United should pursue. He has experience of the division, got into the National League South last year, is a good defender and was so in a strong Maidstone United side last term and he is a decent size. He is a good age at 26, can be used at the base of midfield, and I like him a lot.

Central Midfielder – Dan Hayfield (Bath City)

Yesterday, it was announced that midfielder Dan Hayfield had left Twerton Park after he turned down the offer of a new deal with Bath City. With Hayfield having been one of the better midfielders that the National League South has had to offer in recent years, I’d like The Gulls to make a move for him on a permanent deal this summer.

Hayfield is a player that is no stranger to Devon, having previously been on the books of Tiverton Town prior to joining The Romans in June 2022. A player with a good engine, is a decent athlete that can get about the pitch and make late runs into the penalty area, has an eye for a goal, has quick feet to be able to play in the half-spaces between opposition midfield and defence, and represents a nice balance between offensive and defensive sides of the game.

The fact that Hayfield has turned down the chance to remain with The Romans would – you imagine – suggest he is on the move to a team at the top end of the National League South or in the fifth tier, and I think that returning home to his Devon roots to join a side with ambitions to get promoted out of the sixth tier would be a reasonably logical fit for him. He offers the athleticism and drive from deep to get forward to contribute to the attacking play, and he keeps it neat and tidy on the ball; a good player.

Central Midfielder #2 – Ryan Kavanagh (Cardiff City)

The final central midfielder that Torquay United do add is likely to be a player with less experience and who will be more of a development project and be a backup in the squad. In that case, one option that they should look at is former Cardiff City midfielder Ryan Kavanagh.

Kavangh is one that manager Paul Wotton will know, with Kavangh having spent time out on loan with Truro City last season when Wotton was the manager. As such, there is already a history there on which to build the relationships needed to facilitate such a deal. Neil Warnock, of course, is formerly of Cardiff City and so is also well-placed to be able to help with navigating such negotiations and to try and attract the player to Plainmoor.

In terms of what type of player he is, Kavanagh is another that buys into the Wotton philosophy of working hard, getting through the hard yards, is not afraid to get stuck in and put a challenge in, committed, and is alway going to give his all. A capable runner than can get forward and contribute, and also get about the pitch and win the ball back. He has the technical proficiencies to then play with the ball, and I think that at the stage he is of his career, coming in and signing for The Gulls could suit him.

Attacking Midfielder – Craig Tanner (Ebbsfleet United)

So far, the additions that Paul Wotton made have been strong. However, I do feel that they still have room to make that signing that makes everybody sit up and think “woah, Torquay United mean business this season”. Thus, if they are to go and make a marquee signing, I would like them to go for Craig Tanner.

The key area that I think Torquay United do need to strengthen – given what they have already added – is an attacking midfielder that is able to get on the ball and create. They’ve signed a lot of hard-working, defensively-minded players with the likes of Oscar Threlkeld and Roddy Collins – coupled with an option in the form of Austen Booth – but they lack that player who is going to create things in the final third and pick a pass; Tanner would be perfect.

Tanner is on the books of Ebbsfleet United as it stands, but he is out of contract with Danny Searle’s side and is in discussions with regards to a new deal. He is yet to sign a new contract and so is available for a move, and I think that a move to Plainmoor to link up with Paul Wotton would be favourable for the midfielder.

Wotton has already signed a couple of players that he knows and has managed or played with elsewhere, and – like Threlkeld – Tanner is one that Wotton has worked with before during their time together at Plymouth Argyle. He has been in the National League for a number of years and would be a coup to land in the National League South, but for a player of his technical ability and creativity, I think he could be the difference that propels from a good side to one than can go for promotion.

Target Man – Hamzad Kargbo (QPR)

Torquay United have two good strikers at their disposal in the form of Bradley Ash and Ben Seymour, and both of the strikers work better – I feel – when they play off of a bigger profile of front man. Finding a target man is always difficult, and so identifying an option was tough. However, one player who I think is worth a look following his released by Queens Park Rangers at the end of the 2023-24 season is Hamzad Kargbo.

The Gulls have had strong links to Queens Park Rangers in recent seasons, with a number of Hoops players having made the move from Loftus Road to Plainmoor, and despite Gary Johnson having moved on and Paul Wotton having since come in, I think they will be able to maintain those links with Director of Football Neil Warnock formerly of The Hoops and with any prospective players being able to ask the opinion of those that have played for The Gulls (e.g. Arkell Jude-Boyd, Sinclair Armstrong, Stephen Duke-McKenna etc).

Kargbo is a robust and powerful centre forward that has experience of playing in the National league with Southend United under Phil Brown. He is 22 years of age and so is by no means the finished article, and he still needs the benefit of going and getting more minutes under his belt to learn and develop his game if he is to make the step up to being a regular at first-team level. However, he has all of the raw tools that you would want from a target man – the size, the stature, the aerial ability, being able to play with his back to goal, his power and ability to attack crosses – and so I think he could be a project to develop.