TORQUAY player/manager Kevin Nicholson revealed yesterday that former boss Paul Cox signed players on less than the minimum wage, leaving them unable to pay rent.

 

Cox was unable to prevent the club being relegated from League Two in 2014 and walked away from the financially struggling club in September, having “sold the dream of a footballer” to young players according to Nicholson.

 

He said on Facebook: “The club has a lot of problems due to a very experienced manager blowing his entire budget in one hit, holding back nothing in case of emergency. 

 

“He spent that on the players who are now taking all the criticism, and in some cases absolutely rightly so, from the fans. 

 

“What you don’t know is he sold the dream of being a footballer to a group of young lads and then gave out contracts that they cannot survive on. 

 

“Many on way less than minimum wage. A lot of them can’t afford to put petrol in their cars or pay their rent, never mind live like athletes, and so I’ve spent way too much time behind the scenes trying to help them out so they can concentrate on football.”

 

Cox replied to the accusation, saying that he “brought players in on wages that the budget allowed.”

 

The club are currently second from bottom in the conference and though some clubs have tried to help by loaning them players. Nicholson admitted that don’t have the finances to bring in new talent.

 

“‘Help’ isn’t a championship club offering me one of thier players for a cut price £500 a week as we do not have that money. It may seem like help to them but it may as well be £3,000 a week. 

 

“Help would be giving us a player for free like West Brom have with Andre (Wright). 

 

“Help would be giving/lending money to the club with no ulterior motive or demands other than the will to help a club in struggle. 

 

“You’ll find that type of ‘help’ very hard to come by.”

 

Nicholson praised the spirit of the players, who are having to drive to games in their own cars so they can afford to stay in a hotel.

 

“Yes we have driven to a couple of away games in cars,” he said. 

 

“It was the best option budget considered as otherwise the players would be up at six to travel six hours and then play a game. 

 

“I suggested it, the players agreed and so the club could afford the hotel if we drove. 

 

“Not ideal but the best we could make of it.

 

“Whatever the future holds getting this job has been an honour and a privilege and I intend on being a success regardless of the hurdles in the way.”