New Torquay United boss Ball targets promotion

Jimmy Ball says he is targeting promotion with Torquay United after taking over as their new manager.

The Gulls are fifth in National League South, having dropped from top of the table in early February following a run of seven games without a victory.

Torquay sacked Ball's predecessor Paul Wotton five games into that winless run, with Neil Warnock taking caretaker charge while the club searched for a new boss.

Torquay have won their past two matches.

"I think the squad, fully fit, is the best squad in the league on paper," Ball told BBC Sport.

"But football's not played on paper, it's played on grass.

"If these players play to their potential and to a high standard that's set with high energy, high levels of aggression - and please don't mistake that for running around kicking people - an aggressive mindset in terms of we're going to come for you, we're coming forward and we're going to be relentless in the way we do that - if they play like that, then this is this is a serious team and everyone knows it."

With the Gulls 10 points off leaders Dorking Wanderers, the play-offs represents Torquay's most realistic chance of going up.

Ball has been involved in three play-off campaigns; one as caretaker manager of Forest Green Rovers and two with AFC Totton, the club he left to join Torquay on Wednesday.

"I've done this before and I was really successful there, to be fair," he said.

"I do have a lot of experience of this and a lot of experience of play-offs, I've done three play-offs so I will be drawing on all of that experience, of course."

The Gulls' squad has been hit by a host of injuries to key players and was cited as one of the reasons for the downturn in form over the past few months.

Ball says he will not risk the club's financial future by bringing in a host of new players before next week's transfer deadline, with the new boss wary of the club being in administration this time two years ago.

"The important thing in all of this and how diligently we run this football club from all aspects and to make sure that the situations of the past never arise again," he said.

"That's one of the goals and to then grow from a strong foundation financially to work our way through the leagues.

"Chucking money at things - it can last and it can work in the short term, but it won't be a model we're going to adopt.

"We're going to do things sensibly and well thought out and we won't risk the financial security of the football club for a quick fix and on a couple of players."