KEVIN NICHOLSON has signed a new three-year deal to remain as Torquay United boss after masterminding the club's National League great escape.
The former Gulls left-back rejoined the club in September to replace Paul Cox as manager but the club looked dead and buried in February, sitting 12 points adrift of safety.
However, after dropping to the foot of the table, they lost just three of their next 15 league games and secured their National League status with two matches still to play.
Gulls legend Nicholson, who doubled up as team bus driver, has been rewarded with a three-year deal and says there is plenty to look forward to at the Devon outfit, with Swindon-based Gaming International Ltd's takeover set to be completed imminently.
“We've not scratched the surface of the potential for this club,” the 35-year-old told BBC Sport. “I would like to be the man that has a chance to get it back to where it should be.
“Everybody knows my affinity with the club, everyone knows how much it means to me. I'm keen to keep a large part of the group together, those core players that did so well under huge amounts of pressure.
“If they're pushed even further and pushed in the right way in a positive environment, like they were towards the end of the season, then I really don't think there's any limit to what they can achieve.”
Chairman David Phillips added: “I am delighted to confirm that Kevin and his team will be staying with the club. Their hard work saw the club come back from what seemed impossible odds.”
Meanwhile, the Gulls have confirmed that chief executive Steve Breed has left after almost a year in the role.
