Manager: Wes Saunders

Stadium: Plainmoor

Capacity: 6,003

Last Season: 9th

Comings and goings

Out: Wayne Thomas (Stoke, £250,000), Jon Nichols, O'Neill Donaldson, Michael Griffiths, Jean-Pierre Simb (all released)

In: Midfielder Mark Ford (Lommel, free), striker Kevin Parker (Norwich, free)

One to watch: Right-sided midfielder Chris Brandon seemed destined for a career in non-league circles after being released by Sheffield United as a kid. However, at the age of 23 and while plying his trade for Bradford Park Avenue he was snapped up by Wes Saunders last year to become an integral part of The Gulls' play-off push. A tricky player, quick and packing a firm shot, Brandon has been outstanding in pre-season and is des-perate to make the most of his second chance amongst the professionals.

Odds: Had Torquay beaten Northampton on the last day when they were 1-0 up at half-time then they would have made the play-offs. However, Saunders' side slumped to a 2-1 defeat in a match that proved just how fickle they were. A good start to the season and a strong run-in was divided by a spell of indifferent form and while regarded as a bunch of talented individuals United lacked the ability to grind out results when the going got tough. Sources on the South coast suggest little has changed on that front and despite strikers Tony Bedeau and Eifion Williams scoring 27 goals between them last year, Saunders still wants a more 'orthodox' striker to lead the line. Injuries have been a worry in pre-season with mid-field kingpin Brian Healy set to miss the early part of the season with knee ligament damage.