Torquay's Jimmy Ball Embraces Patience in Squad Rebuild
Jimmy Ball is in no mood to panic.
Torquay United’s manager has already reshaped his squad in the past week, but insists any further business will be careful, not frantic, as the Gulls try to climb out of National League South.
Plymouth Argyle youngsters Tegan Finn and Caleb Roberts have arrived to inject energy and promise, joined by defender Oludare Olufunwa and winger Angelo Cappello. Four fresh faces, all targeted, all on the club’s radar for some time.
At the same time, key names have gone the other way. Striker Jordan Young, defender Sam Dreyer and winger Dylan Morgan have all departed in recent weeks, leaving obvious gaps and a temptation to rush into the market.
Ball is refusing that temptation.
"There's a couple of positions within the squad I'd like to strengthen," he told BBC Radio Devon, before stressing he finally has the luxury of patience. He spoke of taking his time, of making sure every decision is right. The message was clear: no more scrambling.
He underlined that the recent signings were not stop-gaps plucked from nowhere. They were tracked, listed, watched. Now, with the immediate firefighting done, he wants one more addition – but only on his terms.
"I'd like to bring one more in for sure," he said. "But there's no rush about it, it's going to be a calculated one."
Ball’s authority at Plainmoor has grown quickly. He took over in March after Paul Wotton’s sacking and dragged Torquay to a third-placed finish last season, only for their promotion push to be ripped away in a dramatic play-off final defeat at Hornchurch in May.
That hangover showed in August. Torquay stumbled out of the blocks this season, struggling for rhythm and results. Now they have snapped back with back-to-back wins, climbing to eighth in National League South and finally hinting at momentum.
With four seasons already spent in the sixth tier, the club’s patience is wearing thin. Ball’s isn’t. He trusts the recruitment work he and his staff are putting in, trusts the process he keeps talking about.
The next signing, whenever it comes, will say plenty about how serious Torquay are about turning cautious optimism into a sustained promotion charge.
