O/T:- Neil Warnock

[keldsyke]

Neil Warnock is to join Torquay United's board of directors as a football advisor.

The veteran former manager, 75, will advise the National League South side's new owners after they agreed to take over the club, which is in administration.

BBC Sport reported on Friday that the former Sheffield United, Crystal Palace, Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City boss was set to take a role at the club.

Newly installed co-chairman Michael Westcott says the club is also 'close' to appointing a new manager, with an announcement expected on Tuesday.

"Neil's been a huge help to us personally," Westcott told BBC Radio Devon.

"We're not from the football world, we're from the business world, our involvement in football has been a lifelong love for Torquay United.

"As business people we believe in surrounding ourselves with bright minds that know their particular area of speciality much better than us."

Neil Warnock (left) had been advising Michael Westcott (right)
IMAGE SOURCE,REX FEATURES
Image caption,
Neil Warnock (left) had been advising Michael Westcott (right) and his Bryn Consortium ahead of their takeover

One of the first tasks facing Warnock - who managed Torquay in 1993 - will be to help find a new manager.

The Gulls have not had a permanent boss since Gary Johnson left at the beginning of the club's financial issues in February, with his assistant in interim charge for the rest of the season.

"We've lost a lot of time in the past three weeks since the last game of the season and we need to get recruiting when it comes to staff and players," added Westcott.

"Neil's visited Plainmoor for our last three games of the season and he's been blown away by the warm reception that he's received by all of the fans.

"He had been looking for a project. He doesn't want to sit in the dugout anymore, nor does he want to be in the dressing room, that's for others, but he wants to play a part in rebuilding the club which reflects the community which we know holds him in very high affection."

Westcott would not confirm whether Torquay would stay as a full-time club for next season - the squad had been fully professional this campaign.

But he said the budget Warnock will oversee will be one of the biggest in the sixth tier.

"The National League has confirmed to us that we'll have probably the highest playing budget in our league next year," he added.

"It'll be down to the football operation to decide how many full-time contracts and how many part-time contracts that will involve in assembling the squad."