TORQUAY UNITED manager Chris Hargreaves is on the look-out for a new version of himself to take on-pitch command of their Conference comeback – just as he did for old boss Paul Buckle seven years ago.
Former captain Hargreaves, now 41, was among a host of experienced campaigners Buckle lured to south Devon when they first dropped out of League Two in 2007.
The midfielder became a cult hero with the Plainmoor faithful courtesy of his committed displays, culminating with scoring the first goal in the Conference play-off final win over Cambridge as the Gulls bounced back to the Football League within two years.
He returned as replacement for the axed Alan Knill in January but couldn't prevent them becoming the eighth club – after Halifax Town, Hereford, Lincoln, Darlington, Barnet, Chester City and Kidderminster – to be relegated twice from the elite 92.
But having also won promotion from the Conference with Oxford in 2009-10, there are few more qualified rookie managers to lead the attempt to bounce back again.
“I hope that comes to fruition,” says Hargreaves, who was first-team coach at Championship club Bournemouth before taking the United job with 21 games to go.
“Of course, I didn't want the club to drop out, but I don't think it's like the old days where you would go into oblivion. With the two clubs going up, you've got a chance.
“There is a lot more publicity in the Conference, and for two years I was in it with Torquay, it was a magnificent experience. We have to hold those memories close and look to emulate that again.
“I have a special affinity with the club. I said to the lads three weeks before the end of the season that if for whatever reason I am to be the man at the helm when the club goes down, I would never have imagined that possible when I was on the steps at Wembley lifting the trophy.
“We all know how football can hurt you and on the other hand give you massive moments of joy.
“I'm trying to be on the level about it, because let's be honest, there are plenty of people worse off than football players and managers, and as soon as that season ends, the next season will be the new focus.
“We look forward to the fixtures coming out, the first game and then producing young players to do well for the football club.”
While that is the ultimate aim, Hargreaves knows that men well versed with Conference football are needed in the same way that Buckle turned to players like himself, Lee Phillips, Chris Todd and Tim Sills.
Another of that group, left-back Kevin Nicholson, saw his seven-year stint end with the expiration of his contract last week.
While six of 12 players who remain contracted – Dale Tonge, Jordan Chappell, Aaron Downes, Nathan Craig, Karl Hawley and Shaun Cooper – have been transfer listed as Hargreaves looks to free up cash in a budget that would only have been top-eight in the Skrill Premier this season.
He says: “I wish Chris Hargreaves was on the phone to me at the moment – and I wasn't great, don't get me wrong, but I did a job for Bucks. I picked the team most of the time!
“Seriously, I do need to find that because ultimately my experienced players let me down. It was the young players who stepped up to the mark and produced the goods, albeit we still went down.
“We've got to be careful. It's got to be a balance of the two. I do need the leader. I do need the person that's going to be my man, and we have got players that I'm talking to who are out of contract at our club, and at other clubs, who can be that player.”
Relegation was confirmed despite winning 3-1 at Mansfield on the penultimate Saturday, and Hargreaves adds: “It was horrible. The fans were singing my name after the game and the silly thing is, we could have won 10-1.
“We battered Mansfield with the ball and their fans, chairman and directors were really complimentary of us. That's great, but they're in the League and we are not – so that was bitter-sweet.
“We have to make the club sustainable so it's not yo-yoing up and down. We'll reflect and evaluate, but not for long because get trodden on and left behind. I'll get on with it and look to try and do my job, which is to produce young players for the club and to help Torquay challenge.”
