The contacts book works in favour of Torquay United manager Paul Wotton

Contacts have always played an important role in football management, and Torquay United boss Paul Wotton ‘phoned a friend’ to pull off his latest signing.

It was Wotton’s relationship with Bolton Wanderers head coach Steven Schumacher that led to the loan signing of young midfielder Sonny Sharples-Ahmed

Wotton has revealed that Sharples-Ahmed, who made his debut off the bench in Saturday’s 7-0 rout of Eastbourne Borough, isn’t costing United a penny in wages.

Former Plymouth Argyle stalwart Wotton worked as a coach at Home Park during Schumacher’s successful spell there as manager.

The pair have remained friends, and Wotton found himself in need of a favour when he lost captain Matt Worthington and fellow midfielder Callum Dolan after an incident which led to ‘sanction’ action by the club last week.

Salford-born Sharples-Ahmed, 20, who’s made a handful of first-team appearances at League One Bolton and played once for the Egypt Under-23 side, jumped at the chance of gaining more senior experience at Plainmoor.

He drove from Lancashire last Friday, went straight into the squad for the Eastbourne game and impressed during a 25-minute ‘cameo’ off the bench as United closed out a near-record breaking victory, care of a Louis Dennis hat-trick and two goals each for Dylan Morgan and leading scorer Jordan Young.

“We’re not paying a penny for Sonny – Steven Schumacher is doing us a favour,” said Wotton.

“It was tiring for him to come down so late, but he’s a good footballer and he’s already fitted in well.”

Sharples-Ahmed was likely to see more action in United’s (4th) key home game against Worthing (3rd) last night.

And his loan, which runs until the New Year, comes at a busy and important time before and after Christmas.

Meanwhile, Dolan and Worthington are ‘not available’ for at least two more matches.

Since two statements by the club at the end of last week, Worthington has said via social media that he is not suspended, but is ‘recovering from surgery’ and hopes to rejoin the Gulls’ squad soon.