Alan Knill will not be 'interim' at Torquay United

Torquay United stress that it is not a 'Benitez-Chelsea' thing, but the Gulls are dropping the 'interim' tag from new team boss Alan Knill's managerial title.

From now on, and definitely until his current deal runs out at the end of this season, Knill will be known simply as Torquay's 'manager'.

An angry Rafael Benitez, speaking after Tuesday's 2-0 FA Cup win at Middlesbrough was not enough to quieten Chelsea's disgruntled fans, described the Blues' decision to call him 'interim manager' as "a massive mistake".

United chairman Simon Baker said: "We were thinking of dropping the 'interim' line anyway, but Alan will be called 'manager' from now on.

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"Even though our current agreement is to the end of the season, and we still don't know when Martin Ling will be well enough to return to work, the fact is that Alan is the manager of this club. So it makes sense to call him that," the chairman added.

Unlike Benitez, Knill has remained sanguine about the whole issue. "It doesn't really change anything as far as I'm concerned," he said. "It's just a title. I'm working until Martin gets better – that's the deal – and my only interest is keeping Torquay United up between now and the end of the season."

To that end, Knill hopes to have one and possibly two new loan signings on board by the time United kick off tomorrow's npower League Two match at fellow strugglers Accrington Stanley.

Knill is believed to be chasing a central defender and a midfield player as his first two targets, but the wheeling and dealing may not end there.

"It has been proving quite difficult, for different reasons, but the players are definitely out there," said Knill.

"Everyone can see that we need some more players, players who have played in this league and know all about it – and in all positions really."

Knill confirmed that captain Lee Mansell is back in training, after recovering from the sickness bug which ruled him out of Tuesday's seventh successive defeat, the 2-1 reverse at home to Wycombe Wanderers.

"Lee has trained again and looks fine – he drives the team, and you could see that we missed him on Tuesday," Knill added.

On-loan striker Elliot Benyon is having treatment for a niggling knee problem, but he is expected to be fit to face Accrington.