Buckle on Gulls' upward curve

By Pete Oliver

Six months into his revival mission at Torquay United, manager Paul Buckle has paused to take stock.

A rare breather at close to the half-way point in the Blue Square Premier programme has given Buckle the chance to review and preview.

It will have made for a pleasant exercise following an impressive start to the Gulls' first ever campaign in non-league football.

Yet it was not just a session of back-slapping when Buckle gathered his players together to review their progress.

He told BBC Sport: "If you have got anything about you as a player, coach or manager, you do assess how things are going.

"I have said to the players that they are a new group and the club is building but we have fast-tracked it so far and we need to keep raising the bar and trying to move forward."

Buckle took over with Torquay at their lowest ebb following last season's relegation, which was overseen by three managers and as many chairman in a catalogue of calamities.

The former Torquay midfielder started off with just four players but with new owners on board recruited 18 new faces to put together a squad which will resume league duty on Boxing Day challenging for an instant return to League Two.

I believe we have got a group of players who don't want to rest on their laurels Paul Buckle

"There was a great disappointment when the club went down. But there were also theories that the club would go under, because it was in such a bad state," Buckle said.

"Once the new consortium took over there was hope straight away and a lot of gloom and doom lifted.

"It was a terrible feeling to go out of the League but the good to come out of it was the consortium and the staff and the players the club has now and the fans have really responded."

Average crowds are up at Plainmoor, where Torquay have won eight of their ten league games and where they also knocked Yeovil Town out of the FA Cup before losing to Brighton.

The Gulls, who are also still in the FA Trophy, were the first team in the country to reach 50 goals with Tim Sills, Chris Zebroski and Lee Phillips leading the flow.

All three were among Buckle's summer recruits as he meticulously pieced together his backroom staff and playing squad following his arrival from Exeter City, where he had been player-coach.

Once the new consortium took over there was hope straight away Paul Buckle

"In those eight weeks of pre-season we worked tirelessly to bring the right people in. Knowing Torquay and Devon like I do, I knew we needed to do that," Buckle added.

"You not only need the right player, but the right person because the right person makes a conscious effort to do the right things."

Torquay's geographical position - not to mention their recent history - is not always a big draw for potential recruits but Buckle has overcome all the hurdles left lying in his path from last season's debacle.

The 37-year-old, whose career also took in spells with Brentford and Colchester, is understood to be in line for a new long-term contract to secure his future.

The transformation he has overseen has been impressive and things have moved on quicker than expected with the Gulls just four point behind league leaders Aldershot with a game in hand.

We need to keep raising the bar and trying to move forward Paul Buckle

And having come this far, Buckle does not want the momentum to slow in the quest for a promotion place.

He said: "When the club asked me to take over and told me what they were looking for, the target was mid-table.

"That was a realistic target because of the state the club was in. It wanted to get back on its feet and wanted a team to compete.

"In the first half of the season I think we have done more than that and now it's about whether we are happy with that and we just coast, or do we step forward and better ourselves."

Buckle added: "I believe we have got a group of players who don't want to rest on their laurels, but want to go forward and succeed.

"In football you can't rest. You have to have your eye on the next game and the next training session. We have got to head for the end of the season and try our utmost to be successful."