Torquay United manager Jimmy Ball is keeping his feet firmly on the ground as his side prepares for a crucial National League South play-off final this Saturday. The Gulls travel to Hornchurch with promotion to the fifth tier on the line, but Ball insists the club won't let ambition cloud their financial judgment.

After spending three seasons in the sixth tier and emerging from administration just over two years ago, Torquay knows all too well the perils of reckless spending. "The most important thing is that this football club will act diligently no matter what we do," Ball told BBC Radio Devon. "We won't go crazy financially if we get promoted and we won't do the same if we don't and go chasing things."

The Gulls earned their spot in the final after a thrilling 4-2 semi-final victory over Dorking Wanderers at Plainmoor, while Hornchurch secured their place with a composed 2-0 win against Weston-super-Mare. It's a high-stakes showdown that could define the club's trajectory for years to come.

But for Ball, the priority is building something sustainable. "It's very important to everybody that the foundations of this club are rock solid for many years to come," he explained. "We never want to find ourselves in the position the club was in over two years ago. That's what people are adamant about here, and I'm in agreement."

This measured approach is a breath of fresh air in the often volatile world of non-league football, where clubs can rise and fall dramatically based on a single season's gamble. For Torquay United, the focus is on steady growth—whether they're celebrating promotion or regrouping for another campaign. As Ball puts it, "You've got to do it diligently and carefully and be good stewards of this football club."