Neil Warnock returns to management in Torquay United’s 2-2 draw with Farnborough

At times, it seemed as if Warnock – who has been working as an adviser to Torquay’s new owners since May 2024 – had never been away.

Torquay fell behind to a Wes Fonguk goal in the 11th minute, although one of his Farnborough team-mates let the ball pass between his legs while in an offside position – leaving Torquay goalkeeper James Hammon blind.

Warnock said in a distinctive response to a decision against one of his team’s players: “The referee tried to tell me at half-time that there was no interference. I said, ‘Who told you that?’” the assistant referee said.

“Now, it is not possible for the linesman to see the ball pass between his legs.

“They’re just making it up as they go along, aren’t they really? But, listen, that’s life.”

Sonny Blue Low-Everton equalized for Torquay straight from a corner kick on the hour mark before Mason Bloomfield put the visitors 2-1 ahead after taking advantage of Hammon’s hesitation.

But Kieran Wilson, on loan from Exeter City, scored an equalizer in the 88th minute to earn the Seagulls a point.

But their winless run is now six games long and fourth-placed Torquay are nine points behind leaders Dorking Wanderers – having been three points ahead before the poor start to their run that cost Wootton his job as coach on Sunday.

“What I said to them is that everything I expect tonight is 100% and if it’s not good enough, I’ll never criticize you,” Warnock said after taking charge of Torquay for the first time in 1993.

I think everyone gave 100%, and I can’t blame any of them.

He added: “Even when we trailed 1-0, I thought the fans were with us, they could see that they were doing their best and I thought that at the end of the first half we could win the game.”