Veil Of Secrecy

Torquay have announced an agreement on the takeover of the club has been reached with a "Midlands based consortium" but the club are not giving any further information on the planned new owners.

The deal is expected to be completed within two weeks, with Gulls fans debating the identity of the new owner - and indeed what towns and cities constitute "The Midlands".

One name surfacing is that of current Port Vale owner Norman Smurthwaite. Smurthwaite put the League One club up for sale a year ago but has, so far, failed to secure a buyer despite coming close once or twice. He is claimed to have put over £3million into the club since a 2012 takeover at Vale Park but has also claimed he is in no rush to sell to just anybody.

If, and that's a big if, it was Smurthwaite then the confidentiality of the Torquay deal would suit as he completed a sale of the Valiants. That excuse would likely cover any person already at another club like the much-linked Peter Masters, currently with Truro City. The nightclub boss has long been touted as a Plainmoor suitor, but doesn't fit the Midlands profile.

The secrecy could be on the club's part, not wanting to lose a great buyer to another needy club. Just a name and a general location, and the cash-rich bidder could be tapped up by anyone with a reasonable grasp of a keyboard.

Or it could be for darker reasons, as often seems the case. Sometimes the ones that prefer to live in the shadows are there for a reason.

In Torquay's case, living hand to mouth and cutting anything excessive, you are more likely to lure the latter.