Barnes storms into Gulls squad
ASHLEY BARNES, who once starred in a surprise defeat of Torquay United in the Blue Square Premier, is now joining the Gulls' fight to pull away from League Two relegation trouble.
United are taking the 20-year-old Plymouth Argyle striker on loan to the end of the season, boosting their depleted roster of strikers.
-
And both Pilgrims boss Paul Mariner and United manager Paul Buckle believe that ex-Home Park trainee Barnes, 6ft tall, can make a big success of the move.
"He's played in our first team and scored this season, so he's coming along," said Mariner.
"He's got a lot of attributes that you want — he's mobile and aggressive.
"He is at a stage where it is probably a good idea for him to go out and, hopefully, be a star there."
Buckle said: "Ashley is an out-and-out centre-forward.
"He's strong, he's quick and he can score goals.
"He's much needed help for our front line."
It was during a loan spell at Eastbourne Borough that Barnes scored the opening goal and generally gave United a testing night in a 4-2 victory for the Sussex side in December last season.
"Ashley is someone we had training with us a couple of years ago," said Buckle.
"I really liked him then, but it wasn't right for him to join us at the time.
"I recommended him to Eastbourne — and then he went and scored against us.
"We have monitored him ever since, and he has progressed well, playing several games in the Championship.
"Paul Mariner has been great to let him come to us, and it's really nice to have a good relationship with Plymouth now.
"Ashley could have gone to a couple of other clubs, but he has chosen to come here, which is an added bonus."
United, who were also trying to sign Crawley striker Charles Ademeno before the closure of the January Transfer Window frustrated that move, could have at least one more new face on board by the time they face Port Vale at Plainmoor on Saturday.
They are known to be in the market for a midfield player.
There has been speculation linking them with Chelsea's 20-year-old Liam Bridcutt, who recently returned to Stamford Bridge after a loan spell at Stockport County.
Meanwhile, a gaggle of other League clubs are now on Ademeno's trail, and Crawley manager Steve Evans says he is resigned to losing him.
There is still a good chance that United left-back Kevin Nicholson will go out on loan this week.
Although no deal has been agreed yet, BSP promotion chasers Mansfield and Stevenage remain interested.
Elsewhere, Bradford City's Stuart McCall has become the eleventh managerial casualty in League Two this season.
Notts County have been responsible for two of them.
McCall has resigned after more than two-and-a-half years in charge at Valley Parade.
The Bantams, the best supported team in the division, slipped to 16th after Bury inflicted their sixth home defeat and left them with only three wins from 14 games in front of their own fans.
12 Comments
View all
by Joey Tempest, Starcross
Thursday, February 11 2010, 11:59AM
“Sign Hockers!”
by Dave, Glos
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 5:19PM
“The recent player acquisitions and sales can only mean one thing and that is that Torquay are not in a strong financial position. Established players on reasonable wages have been replaced with cheap loan signings. What other conclusion is there?
Personally, I would rather prudence than administration!”
by Neville, Sutton Coldfield
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 4:59PM
“My comments were not meant to be a criticism, more an observation of how the manager and board have performed in relation to the squad this season. If you look at the league table, result patterns so far this season and the fact there is a great possibility we will be relegated you would not be able to tell whether Bateson, Roberts or the Consortium were in control. Now tell me I am wrong. I am not negative, because I do not want us to be in the BSP, I like my League 2 football.”
by Rick White, Torquay
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 1:30PM
“When are some of you critics going to get real. The current board and manager have done a good job on limited resources. What do you expect them to do, sign a striker who is a championship regular banging in the goals for a past time. The players you lot harp on about do not exist. An experienced midfielder with a bit of pace, good passer with an eye for goal, £15000.00 and £700.00 a week, or what about, 6"2" striker playing regularly in league 1 scored 20 goals in each of the last two seasons but fancys dropping down to league 2. His current club are OK with this and only want £2500.00 and the player says he will take a pay cut to put him on par with the current Torquay squad.
Stop knocking and start supporting your club.”
by Rob Kiggen, The Netherlands
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 10:35AM
“Neville,
"Recruite more positive Board members" must go down as the funniest and at the same time most stupid comment I've ever read on this site.”
by Pete, London
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 10:32AM
“Neville, in the business world of a League Two football club with average gates of around 2800, at what point do you think that "positive" might become "careless"? Think about Cardiff, Portsmouth, Southend, Chester and Torquay United circa 2006/7, and perhaps be very grateful that the current board are not following the "positive" example of Roberts, Ridsdale and Vaughan.”
by geoff, bodmin
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 9:55AM
“Neville - lets not start knocking the board yet as they have helped to put right the damage caused by the short but disasterous Roberts tenure. I also disagree with much criticism of Mike Bateson. But, the player policy does need some understanding. This year was not the first where a Torquay manager has said that he was not going to be rushed into changing the squad before the season started. Both times it has been a catastophic mistake. I think we can stay up, but we should have not be in a position where relegation was ever a possibility. There are smaller clubs than Torquay who are not struggling for points.”
by Neville, Sutton Coldfield
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 8:22PM
“There does seem to be a little bit of Roberts and a little bit of Bateson about this new Board.
The reluctance to invest in the (permanant) squad and the acceptance of the fact that relegation is looming. If we stay up, Buckle should be the first out of the door and more positive Board members recruited.”
by W Roberts, England
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 5:46PM
“Are we going back to the Roberts era, Where the team is full of Loan Signings. were the players loyalty is to there parent club and not ours.. It seams we have had the Heart of our team ripped out mid Season.. This seams like desperation and a sure sign we are in Big Trouble...”
by Peter, London
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 3:34PM
“Let's hope Gulls don't rue their swoop for storming Barnes.”