Steve Elswood, chair of Torquay United Women, has quickly appointed a new management regime to take the club back to the National League Tier 4 status of the game as soon as possible, with the appointment of new manager Lee Mann on a 3-year arrangement.
Mann spent 3 successful seasons at Liskeard Women FC bringing county cup silverware on two occasions, gaining promotion to the SWRWFL premier division, consistently developing players, and overseeing his former club’s development on and off the pitch with much success. The new management team will comprise Assistant Manager Sam Borthwick, Coach Ben Cooper, and Jan Augustynowicz, all of whom were part of Manns Liskeard Athletic Women’s FC outfit. Jimmy Weeks GK coach has also been confirmed as staying on for 2024-25 with other appointments to be confirmed in the next couple of weeks.
Tracey Cross who finished last season as player-manager will continue her role as captain for the 24-25 season as she continues to lead the team’s charge on the pitch towards more silverware in 24-25. Danni Wyatt remains as Club Captain along with her role as #hergametoo ambassador and also adds a new youth development role to the club structure.
Chairman Steve Elswood commented –
“Firstly, I’d like to put on record the amazing and tough job that Tracey Cross had to do for us as Player Manager in the second half of last season and how close she was to almost guiding us to safety against the odds. However, we need a stronger structural model for the future, so I am delighted to have secured Lee and his coaching team from Liskeard Athletic Women’s FC where they have done a fantastic job over the last 3 years. Lee has a real infectious passion for the game and our project along with a wealth of experience and player contacts in the women’s game.
Our aim is simple this season, to learn from the season just gone in the NL and put those things into practice immediately, so we can be stronger and more competitive than ever. That starts with a strong management team leading the players on and off the pitch and continuing that NL mentality even though we may be away from that structure for now.
We are a big club and every aspect of our operation is important, this season more than ever. This way we continue our forward development in the most professional way possible and give Lee, his coaching team, and the players, every opportunity to achieve in 24-25 and beyond.
With more positive information due out very soon regarding us this is a wonderful time to be part of the next step of our journey, and I’m looking forward to Lee and his team embedding this on the pitch and through the player’s performances and results. Our future is very bright indeed”