SUMMER NEWS 2026

Look on the bright side. Reading is on the M4. That's the lot for good news.

Worst on the list? I'm thinking perhaps Peterborough.



Going East-West is never fun in the UK unless it's M4/M25 and even then, fun isn't perhaps the right word.

To be fair, in terms of travel time and perceived league seniority, it's only Bristol City fans would want to be measured against isn't it? Portsmouth isn't so far as the crow flies but it's a pig by road or rail. Perhaps in 2027/28......

Of course, there are Cardiff and Swansea - M4/M5 - forgot them. But Exeter? Yeovil?

Owen Oseni makes his international debut. Congratulations!

This is a PR disaster.


However, attendances at home league games seem to range between about 750 and 1,250 - with the exception of 6,500 v Exeter. It's not a lot of support is it? To be fair, it's more than in the away games at AFC Bournemouth, Oxford United and Watford, all in higher men's divisions than Argyle last season.

Club statement on the Women's team, issued at about 8pm.

I think that’s a yes. If promotion had been won then it would not have happened. What I don’t know is whether our expenditure was higher than others in the same league. We did have a fully professional squad - is that the norm?

The men’s team also narrowly missed out on promotion too of course and we know that in the absence of a new investor, Hallett has put in large sums to keep the club going in the expensive aftermath of relegation.

That’s the problem right there. The last time we got into the Championship, the increased revenue was more than matched by higher costs and we ended up worse off not better. The stadium was to all intents and purposes sold out every week in League 1 last year, so there’s no upside there except ticket prices. It therefore all comes down to spending the TV money more effectively than the other clubs. A tall order.

I was surprised to read that a couple of Arsenal’s title winning squad started out as non-league youngsters. Perhaps that’s a model for this summer’s recruitment. Be willing to pay serious money for youngsters who have Championship potential for 2 or 3 years’ time.

And perhaps the strategy has to be to plan for relegation with a stronger but affordable League 1 team than you had when you were promoted. Rinse and repeat.

Those two things won’t go down well with some of the fan base though - they’ll expect Championship quality now.

Not as far away from home for him I presume.....

But.....


Meanwhile, first incoming....