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Controversial chairman Chris Roberts has resigned from the board at Torquay United, with rebel director Mervyn Benney taking temporary control.
Last week Benney, and two other long serving directors, issued an ultimatum to Roberts that it was him or them to leave. Roberts, in his usually defiant manner, accepted their resignations.
Torquay United had earlier declared that it is 'business as usual' despite having told it's behind-the-scenes staff that they were being made redundant.
On Monday morning staff arrived to be told that they would be made redundant, but were later in the day reinstated with the promise of a new owner arriving on Tuesday. Club Secretary Debbie Hancox, daughter of former Chairman Mike Bateson, told their official website:
"On Monday morning we were made redundant then on Monday evening we were re-instated with the promise of a new owner for Torquay United with immediate effect. The newer owner was due to meet with all the staff yesterday (Tuesday) morning and we are still waiting!!! It is a very worrying and confusing time for everyone, but myself and all my staff have been carrying on regardless, what else can we do? We have a game on Saturday and it won't organise itself. It is business as usual and we urge all the fans to get behind the team on the football field whilst we address and resolve the issues off the pitch."
Fans are jubilant at the news of Roberts' departure and it is expected that Mike Bateson, who is still the major shareholder, will return to the club after just four months away. Since his departure, the club have won just two games to be seven points adrift of safety at the bottom of League Two.
