Dylan Morgan signs for Torquay
Yeovil Town winger signs for Torquay United. We’ve heard that one before haven’t we?
This time it is Dylan Morgan who has swapped South Somerset for South Devon and joined the National League South leaders following in the footsteps of Jordan Young at the end of October.
The departure of the 22-year-old was confirmed by the club on Friday evening ahead of the long journey to Hartlepool United for this weekend’s National League Premier fixture – we can’t blame Dyl for wanting to make an unnecessary 700-mile journey! His new club’s announcement suggests he will be involved in their home fixture with Hemel Hempstead Town tomorrow.
Having impressed at the end of last season and in pre-season, Morgan started the opening game of this season, a 1-0 home defeat to Hartlepool, before being substituted after 56 minutes and was loaned out to National League South side Weston-super-Mare at the end of August. He scored three goals in five appearances in north Somerset and was recalled to Huish Park early just a month later.
He went straight back in to the starting line-up for the 1-1 home draw with Aldershot Town on his return and stayed there for the next four league matches before dropping to the bench for the 3-1 home win over Maidenhead United in late October. Since then minutes have been hard to come by with a 30-minute appearance in the 1-0 win at Southend United and again off the bench in the second half of last weekend’s 3-1 home win over Braintree Town, where he set up Brett McGavin for a third goal after a superb forward run. Not a bad parting gift.
The former Taunton Town man, who arrived at Huish Park in January from the county town, departs as fellow wide man James Plant returns to his parent club Port Vale with an injury expected to keep him out until his loan agreement expires next month.
Following the dismal derby defeat at home to local rivals W*ymouth in the FA Trophy earlier this month, manager Mark Cooper spoke of the need to be “ruthless” with his players and the social media rumour mill has been alive with talk of the imminent departure of players including Morgan ever since.
Asked this week whether members of the first-team squad had been transfer listed, Cooper said: “I’m really loyal to these players and give them lots of chances to play, we look after them and make sure they are well prepared. They know every detail and I love them all to bits, but I live and die by results.
“When you lose to W*ymouth in the manner we did, I have to rattle a few cages. I am not saying we did or did not put anyone on the transfer list, but I had to dig a few people in the ribs to make sure we came out fighting. Did that work? We won the game (at home to Braintree last weekend), got three points and showed a real tenacity.
“Whether people are on the transfer list or not, that is the club’s business, but I have said to the players that they have to keep doing whatever their job is in the team.
“If I was going to move players on it would be for the right reasons, like someone not getting enough game time, like we did with Dylan (Morgan) earlier in the season. There will be other players that need games and, if we did do it, that would be the reason.”
Dylan leaves us as a National League South champion and for that, we are incredibly grateful.
All the best, Dylan.
