WOTTON BACKING ROONEY TO THRIVE

NEW TORQUAY BOSS READY TO FACE ARGYLE IN FIRST HOME CLASH

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

PLYMOUTH Argyle legend Paul Wotton is expecting ‘a huge challenge’ when his new-look Torquay United squad take on Wayne Rooney’s Pilgrims in a pre-season Devon derby at a sold-out Plainmoor tomorrow.

Wotton admitted it would be a special occasion for him given his long association with Argyle and he has backed Rooney to make a success of his new role as the Pilgrims’ boss.

Four divisions separate Torquay, who are gearing up for a season in National League South after being rescued out of administration earlier this summer, and Argyle, whose Championship campaign begins at Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday, August 11. Wotton was appointed as Torquay manager on a three-year contract in May after a five-year stint with Truro City, while former promotion-winning Argyle boss Neil Warnock has been brought in as a football advisor to the Gulls’ new board of directors.

Wotton told Herald Sport: “I have been really lucky in my career the way some things have worked out and for my first game at Plainmoor to be against the club you can’t help but associate me with, it’s going to be great.

“Everyone knows what I think of the football club. It will always be in my heart, of course it will. It will be good to catch up with lots of friends, and make new friends with the Torquay fans.

“Being really boring and putting my manager’s hat on, it’s just another game for us that I’m hoping we come through injury-free and another game to August 10 (when Torquay begin their season at home to Enfield Town), but I’m not going to sit here and say for one second it won’t be a special occasion for me because I’m looking forward to it very much.”