Torquay United confirm Crawley's approach for Eunan O'Kane

“The big difference between R & D and Crawley town is that R & D were two very small clubs from I believe the Midlands Counties league who merged together who then found a big backer but without actual residential support! Crawley Town was a far more established club at Southern League level and can draw on the fan base of a big new town.

Much of Crawley's population has its roots in London, therefore a lot of people who support London clubs, but who find the cost prohibitive and now league football is on offer will go and watch Crawley. This I think will continue to snowball as youngsters growing up will be happy to wear a red shirt of a league club, they wouldn't have worn the same shirt of a side in the Southern League a few years ago.

As a resident of Crawley, but with roots in Devon, I'm completely the opposite, the wardrobe is firmly blue and yellow and apart from away kits, it won't ever change!

Whilst over the last few weeks I've endured a bit of stick from the "new" Crawley brigade about being in a lower division than them, I've smuggly replied, so where were you when they used to play Barton Rovers in the F.A. Trophy.......?

We have had our ups and downs but I prefer the 400 mile round trip for a home game than seeing Crawley, about a 10 minute walk each way.”

“me too Hugh ! Them and MK Dons !!”

“Agree with TimDis, the money would help Torquay to build a good squad. Of course I have no problem with Bobby going for a decent fee to a better club, and that seems likely. I have no problem with Eunan bettering himself and benefiting The Gulls. I have every problem with Eunan going to a team that I despise, especially when their manager insults my team. I can't abide Crawley, Johnny come latelys financed by God knows who, destined to go the way of Rushden & Diamonds in due course. The stain of Steve Evans will never leave them. I for one will celebrate when they do go bust!!”

“£400k or thereabouts would mean a substantial (for us) investment in the 2 or 3 new players which could be the difference between the 'nearly' team of the past couple of seasons and one which could make the top 3 and stay there.”

“So O'Driscoll thinks he did well at "unfashionable" Torquay. He would do far better to stay at Torquay, a SOLVENT side here for the long term, or move to a higher division club WITH A FUTURE, rather than move to Creepy Crawley, a fly by night side with a very uncertain long term future. On your bike O'Driscoll, I bet you won't work for free when Crawley unravels.”

“TimDis makes a very good point!

OK, we all appreciate that actual "goal scorers" attract higher transfer fees, but £175k goes in to £4m nearly 23 times, Powell is good but in no way is he 23 times better that Eunan! That said, compare Lampard's wage with Mansell's, even greater disparity!

Perhaps when Eunan negotiated his contract extension with the breakage clause, he didn't want to be priced out....? I.e. did Torquay Utd want, say a £250k value and Eunan thought that would put clubs off?

We have to face reality, we are a selling club but at least another £50k on top would be fairer. Also, the change of management team at Crawley does us no favours here, Evans and Rayner against O'Driscoll and Coppell, no comparison as to who a ball playing play-maker would want to play for.

On the subject of Powell, Crewe also have a reputation of supplying talented players who go all the way and succeed at the highest level, not just one division up, and they are located in one of football's hot beds, the South West doesn't sompare to the North West, I'd guarantee that Crewe have a lot more scouts watching them regularly than we do!”

“£175k is an insult. Given that Powell has gone to Man U for £4M, we shouldn't let those muppets at Crawley or anyone else have him for less than £400k. About time we got some decent return on a player and not settle on the first offer that come our way.”