“I don’t know and don’t think it’s right that I make comments on what he’s done in his past,” said Harrop.
“I think a new stadium is vital for the progress of this football club, due to the commercial aspects of the new club.
“Whatever has happened in the past, I can only repeat that nothing will happen at Plainmoor until a new stadium is built, that has been said from day one.”
Foster added: “I am sceptical about whether a genuine business plan can be put together for a new stadium, although I’m always prepared to listen.
“The council’s priority must be to ensure there is always a stadium suitable for League football within Torbay – that means ensuring Plainmoor is protected by retaining ownership of its freehold until there’s clearly another stadium literally under construction to replace it.”
Wigan-born Hunter, who fell in love with the Gulls during family holidays to Torquay as a youngster and does an eight-hour round trip to go to home games, feels a new stadium is the least of the club’s worries with the threat of relegation such a real possibility.
“If someone with the right intentions came in and argued about some of the problems that Plainmoor poses as a ground – the footprint isn’t enormous, stuff like that – I would say supporters would be quite open to it,” he said.
“There’s an acceptance in the fanbase that, fair enough, once we we’re back in the English Football League then there is a bit of potential for a new ground to be the next step, but I can’t see how that can possibly be a priority at the minute.”