(Picture: Action Images via Reuters)
By Matt Bishop
Torquay United have parted company with player-manager Kevin Nicholson after the club's difficult start to the National League campaign.
After an encouraging draw at home to Tranmere on the opening day, The Gulls have since lost their last three league games, and sit rock-bottom of the division with just one point.
The final game of Nicholson's two-year tenure proved to be against Boreham Wood on Tuesday – a 4-2 defeat at home that the 36-year-old labelled as “embarrassing”.
A statement on Torquay's website said: “Torquay United Football Club have announced the departure of player-manager Kevin Nicholson with immediate effect.
“As a football club, we would like to thank Kevin for all his hard work as a manager and player for Torquay United, and we wish him well for the future.”
During a nomadic playing career that started at Sheffield Wednesday and included spells at the likes of Northampton and Scarborough, Nicholson initially joined Torquay in 2007 and went on to make over 300 appearances in Devon.
After a brief period away from the club, the former England C international returned to Plainmoor in 2015.
The man dubbed the “Ranieri of the Riviera” was appointed the club's player-manager, and oversaw two dramatic escapes from the jaws of relegation – most recently guiding the Gulls to unlikely safety last season.
