Torquay United... In Focus

Ian Atkins pulled off a miraculous recovery for the Seagulls last season, to ensure safety despite a heavy deficit going into the final months of the campaign. It is sure to take another mammoth effort from new boss Lubos Kubik who replaced Atkins last week because of the current league position. Kubik, a former Czech Republic International, with little managerial experience, has been drafted in by controversial owner Chris Roberts.

Kubik: Seen here playing in Euro '96

Roberts has seemed more content with off-field issues, and trying to get the Plainmoor outfit in the national spotlight, his campaign regarding cheats in the game the most famous, that he has steadily overseen a dramatic slump in on-pitch fortunes. So much so that he removed Atkins immediately following the 5-2 defeat at Peterborough United. Roberts knew Kubik from his time playing in the Czech league.

Kubik will have to move fast, as United have plummeted down the League 2 table to find themselves just a point above the relegation zone. Team spirit is said to be at a low, after stories, which have since been labelled “ludicrous” by the ‘Torquay United Official Site', suggested that the future of the players contracts were in doubt. Roberts met the players just this week for lunch to re-affirm his commitments.

With Atkins set to move into a Director of Football role, in honour of his work last season, Kubik will have a guidance that will look to steer the club from a seemingly inevitable relegation dogfight. With the average attendance under 3,000, relegation could be unthinkable for the side on the English Riviera.

They started the season well, with two wins from their opening two games. However, only two more league wins have followed in a further seventeen games.

Manager: Lubos Kubik

League position (as of 2/12/06): 22/24

Jamie Ward

Top goalscorer: Jamie Ward (7)

Goals for: 16

Goals Against: 25

Player of the season so far: You cannot look past seven goal Jamie Ward. Without him, they would be more likely to be in Macclesfield's position, such as been the lack of goals around Plainmoor.

V Notts County: The Magpies earnt a precious three points with a last gasp Lawrie Dudfield winner at Plainmoor at the end of September. The sides meet at Meadow Lane on January 20^th.

Drapes' Prediction: The off-field nonsense, and lack of direction on the field, added to the fact that they have appointed a manager with no experience of the English game, let alone League 2, I have to say relegation looks a certainty. 23^rd.