Darren is the right Way forward for Torquay United boss Jimmy Ball

The arrival of former Yeovil Town and Bath City manager Darren Way as Torquay United’s interim assistant was not planned, new boss Jimmy Ball has hinted.

Way, 46, took his place alongside Ball for the first time in the 2-2 draw with NL South leaders Dorking Wanderers.

That was only two days after he’d left relegation-threatened Bath City.

Ball had said at his first press conference last Thursday that he would be bringing in a permanent No.2, but indicated that the appointment hadn’t been finalised.

Asked after the Dorking match if Way’s arrival had been in the pipeline, Ball said: “No.

“I came up against Darren when he was Under-18 coach at Plymouth Argyle and also at Bath City.

“He’s a real good football man.

“I saw what happened to him (at Bath), and I thought it was unfair and we just sort of connected.

“I said ‘Come and help me until the end of the season and see how it goes’.”

Plymothian Way, whose 295-game career as a midfielder (Yeovil Town, Swansea City) was ended by injuries sustained in a car accident, is a UEFA Pro Licence coach.

As well as coaching and managing at Yeovil for seven years, he has been Under-18 coach at Plymouth, assistant manager at Fleetwood Town and manager of Bath for 15 months.