In Dom we trusted during the dark days of our club's recent history

THINK one of the most valuable lessons we all learned during the Clarke Osborne years is that communication is key to the wellbeing of a football club.

- Richard Hughes

While the owner and the general manager George Edwards continually ignored requests from the media for interviews, there was one constant link with the club that we could all rely on: Dominic Garrett-Mee, who it has been revealed has left Torquay United for pastures new.

We are in a different era now, of course, one of openness and understanding. But in the dark old days of communication blackouts and ignored emails, I would like to put it on the record that Dom was always there to answer a question or relay a request.

These days, like this morning, I can text co-chairman Michael Westcott and get a reply almost instantly. It is such a far cry from the Osborne era that it's easy to forget how awkward it was to work on a paper that has supported the club since 1925 - and yet be blanked by the owner.

With Dom goes another link to that era - but one that was the best of that era. Cheers Dom.

The club's statement on Sunday read: “A dedicated and hard-working member of the Torquay United team behind the scenes, Garrett-Mee worked tirelessly for the club for over 20 years in both voluntary and paid positions.

“After joining as a turnstile operator and programme seller in 2004, he then took over matchday announcer duties in 2007.