I've watched the whole thing now.
Transfer data is published by the EFL and Argyle's spend was the 6th highest in the division. This is indisutable.
However results have not measured up to that and it is acceptedby all that the summer's recruitment had not bben successful. Neither Tom Cleverley nor David Fox were significantly involved in the decisions and those that were, will not be involved next time around. The departure of two individuals involved in data analysis and recruitment planning in January 2024 was mentioned.
Derek Adams is of the opinion that whilst indvidual players are of good quality, the mix of players and their profiles do not necessarily provide an ideal balance. The high level of churn following relegation was an added problem.
There are sufficient funds left over from the summer recruitment to bring in 2 players and more cash may be available. However, the rules about how many players, their ages and loan status each club can have on the roster and in matchday squads are complicated and Argyle are already limited by those rules. The implication is that there will be leavers as well as joiners to balance all that up.
Adams also pointed out that at various times, 25% of the core squad have been unavailable due to injury and he is reviewing the training and fitness regime.
The question was asked if Argyle already had a list of recruitment targets and if not, why not. Adams said that the New Year window was inherently more complicated that the Summer one as far fewer players were out-of-contract. It was not as simple as having a list. There is a list of requirements but this has to face the reality of January trading.
Asked when Argyle had even watched some of the summer's recruits before signing or had just looked at the stats, Adams said all clubs use the same base player performance data. Methods vary: Brighton and Brentford had benefitted from outstanding player selection. Argyle were probably no different to most - player data is used to produce a shortlist and the they are then subject to old-fashioned scouting. Yes, they had been watched.
Adams was complimentary of Cleverley, who has been flexible in tactics and personnel in trying to find a winning formula. Last Saturday was the first game this season with an unchanged starting 11. His training methods and relationships with players and staff are sound. Adams is clear Cleverley has had to deal with the results of a poor transfer window rather there being other problems.
A question was asked as to why a manager with Cleverley's limited experience had been employed. Simon Hallett pointed out that Ryan Lowe had only 18 months experience as head coach when he came to Argyle and Stephen Schumacher none at all when he replaced him. Adams added that Steve Bruce has just been sacked by Blackpool so experience alone is not always enough.
Asked about Foster and Rooney, Simon Hallett declined to go into detail but did admit that unspecified departures had been due to a lack of cultural fit. Make of that what you will
The Five Year Plan stated the objective of being a sustainable Championship club with Premier League aspirations. Hallett admitted the second part of that was probably an overstatement but the first part remained the target.
Outside investment had been sought, unsuccessfully so far. Finding a shared commitment to the "community club" ethos had been difficult and Plymouth's geographic isolation and distance from a major airport were obstacles - the sort of people likely to have the cash wanted to be able to fly in private jets and stay in London quality hotels. Hallett however described the rapidly growing interest in grass-roots fottball in America with the sport being seen as more authentic than the over-commercialised franchise nature of traditional American sports. The search continues and Hallett is willing to have his shareholding diluted and eventually to step aside altogther. An investment bank is heading the search.
Dropping from the Championship to League 1 meant a reduction of £7m p.a. in TV money alone. With more and more clubs spending in excess of their income, it becomes harder to progress up the leagues. Following a small loss in the first year in the Championship, Argyle lost £6m last year trying to stay in the Championship. There is not a similar difference between League 1 and League 2, so although relegation is clearly not the intended outcome, the results should not include a financial disaster.
Adam's pointed out that when he managed Argyle in League 1 (about 10 years ago I think), the player budget was around £2m. Now it's £9m.
In addition to the big loss last year, the club is loss making currently. The club currently owes Hallett £12m in addition to his shareholding, monies that have been spent on operating losses and club infrastructure development.
There were several questions and comments about Foulston Park and whether spending there would be better deployed in recruiting players. Exeter had reportedly made millions from their development of Ollie Watkins but was perhaps one such player in 20 years really worth all the expense at the Foulston Park? Derek Adams pointed out he'd been around when Adam Randell and Michael Cooper started their careers at Argyle but noted that 30% of Wigan's playing time has been coming from their youth recruits. This could save millions in outgoing transfer fees. Bringing players into the 1st team was the main objective, not a search for a future Ollie Watkins.
Simon Hallett stated categorically that the money he and the other investors had put into Foulston Park was entirely separate from his funding of the club (including the £12m loan balance mentioned previously) and that the board of PAFC were not involved in the spending. Quite simply, he would not have made that cash to subsidise transfer dealings.
