WEYMOUTH have made a generous donation pledge in solidarity with embattled Torquay United ahead of their league fixture on Saturday.

When the two teams meet at the Bob Lucas Stadium, Weymouth will give £5 from every adult away ticket sale to the Gulls’ supporters’ trust.

With Torquay’s segregated away allowance set at 1,800 fans, it means Weymouth could potentially donate a maximum of £9,000.

It comes after the Devon non-League giants on Thursday announced their intention to enter administration, later followed by the departure of manager Gary Johnson.

READ MORE: Frankie Monk joins Step 4 club on loan for month

Weymouth, more keenly than most, have experienced similar lows in recent years.

Poignantly, it follows the 15-year anniversary of the 9-0 loss to Rushden & Diamonds, coming after major financial issues forced the Terras to field their youth team.

And, more recently, the troubled summer of 2022 when Weymouth instigated an emergency operation to steady the club’s finances following relegation from the National League.

Weymouth chairman Paul Maitland announced the move in a club statement.

He said: “Last Thursday, the news broke that Torquay United are set to go into administration.

“As fans of Weymouth, you will likely recall that one day prior was the 15th anniversary of the infamous Rushden & Diamonds game and the huge operation that had to be undertaken to save our club. Even in August 2022, we faced the very real threat of going out of business.

“Today, we all feel privileged to be sat in a more stable position, though we are still recovering block by block.

“The board of directors sat on Thursday night for our monthly board meeting and inevitably Torquay’s position came up. As such, we have decided along with the support of our own Supporters’ Association that we want to show our solidarity and stand with Torquay United and their fans.

“I have spoken with Torquay United Supporters Trust and I have let them know that for every adult away ticket sold for next Saturday’s fixture, we will donate £5 to them and their club in aid of their fight.

“We have set an allocation of 1,800 aside for them, for this segregated fixture, and hope they are able to sell as many as possible. Please note, if anyone has already bought a ticket for the game, it will be considered as part of this scheme.

“I know I speak for all when I say that non-League football is a special place and clubs need to stick together. We must have rivalry but if clubs don’t survive, we have nothing.

“Fans of non-League clubs are more like family and it’s more than just the results, it’s the sense of belonging and togetherness.

“To our fans, I know you will see this as a positive move, close to our own hearts. We face our own difficulties daily but we must stand up and show our support for another club in their hour of need, as many did to us in ours.

“Let us fill the Bob Lucas Stadium next Saturday and show that non-League is alive and kicking, that the fans of these clubs are here to stay and be heard. Apart from those 90 minutes, we are united in our passion to our respective clubs and their futures.”