Hello friends and welcome back to my Plymouth Argyle Football Manager Story and I‘m happy to bring you all the news from Home Park in the build-up to my second season in charge which will now be in League One following promotion last season. As usual I’ll report on a month by month basis starting of course in May and going through until the pre-season results are complete.
May 2012
Just days after winning the League Two title the work began in assessing the squad, renewing the contracts of those I wanted to keep and preparing to unload a few players as well.
My first player to renew was Simon Walton who signed for £2,700.00 followed by Carl Fletcher for £1,100.00per week. My central midfield had remained in tacked and with a savings of over £5,000.00! Central defender Soukouna received a slight increase which was fair but overall I was delighted with the start.
Towards the end of the month the board provided a cash injection of £140,000 and we negotiated two new sponsorship deals, though would I see any of that money?
Well I got a transfer budget but the salary one was reduced. All those savings made earlier had been wiped out thus ending any hope of re-signing Curtis Nelson who is my best defender by far and only 18 years old. Additionally any contract offers to early “Bosman “ players were restricted to £90.00 a week salary.
Editing the budgets barely gave me £1,000.00 more so I decided to leave things as they were for now and wait for the board meeting to set the seasons expectations. A fat lot of use a transfer budget is when you have no money to pay new players. So annoying!!! We then received another payment of £250,000 for a League 2 solidarity payment.
June 2012
The month started off looking like this in terms of salaries so I was going to have to sit the next 30 days out until some players were released in order to bring in some cheaper ones though delving into my reserves or Under 18’s was looking like an option. Of course loaning players is a given in the lower leagues.
Total Wage Budget: £23,247
Current Wage Budget: £28,340
There were a lot of good player being released by Scottish clubs but there was very little I could do due to board restrictions so I thought another option in accessing players would be to ask for a parent club which after negotiating the board approved.
As anticipated I lost my best young central defender to Sheffield Wednesday but at least made £130,000 on him due to a compensation clause.
Whilst I was suffering in my own misery The Chairman was rubbing his hands together as the club announced a profit for last season.
Finally some good news as the month drew to a close as we announced a link with Liverpool that surely will help in strengthening the squad for the coming season?
With nearly half a million pounds coming in from TV rights I was hoping for some leeway on the salary budget but it wasn’t to be as the season’s expectations were decided. I settled on a mid-table finish – no option really.
The link with Liverpool was proving to be somewhat fruitless as they were either unwilling to let players come to Plymouth or the players themselves didn’t want to come south. In the last few days of June we loaned American Marc Pelosi for the upcoming season from their youth side. Pretty good physical attributes and high team work and can play on either flank — I like that.
Some other good news was Spurs striker Kudus Oyenuga signed up for another season at Home Park which I was delighted about. I’d asked Assistant Manager to compile a loan report on strikers and on the final day of June Bobby Ponton joined us from Hearts. Yes we had to pay £12,000 just to loan him but given this youngster’s profile I thought that was money well spent.
On the final day of the month seven high earning players left the club.
July 2012
All eyes were on the Euro Championships to start off July which Portugal won on penalties beating Iberian neighbor Spain.
At Home Park we picked up midfielder Kaby who was with us last season on a free from Chelsea and the two left backs on the same day. Daniel Redmond who had been released by Wigan and Jeremy Helan arrived from Man City, both of whom should be ideal for my left flank tactic.
Before the first week was over we had brought in another three players all who had been released from their clubs. Daniel Boateng, who arrived from Arsenal to bolster the central defence, Kyle Jacobs from Livingston who will back up Fletcher in midfield and finally William Ekong also a defender and for some reason was let go by Spurs?
That left the salary budget looking like this after releasing players and bringing in the new recruits. I was determined to keep things in control.
Total Wage Budget: £25,036
Current Wage Budget: £20,263
One of the biggest difficulties of the off season was finding a goalkeeper and going into the opening pre season game I just had one. Thankfully Truro who we thrashed 7-0 didn’t cause any need for a spare but the game ended on a sour note as Kaby picked up an injury and will be gone for 5 months. I went into in to my under 18’s for a replacement.
I really wanted to loan a keeper to save on wages but it was so frustrating to find one who would come to Plymouth so in the end I signed Loris Karius but at £750.00 a week this young German was a lot cheaper than Larrieu at £3,000.00 whom we let go in June.
August 2012
I started the month off by loaning Nathan Eccleston from Liverpool for the season in hopes he will emulate Asante’s performances last season who, after several futile attempts refused to come back to Plymouth.
If you remember when I took over the club the financial situation was in terrible shape but just over 12 months later it’s not too bad at all. We still have some loans to pay off in the future though this ledger does make pleasant reading for now.
Pre-Season Results:
We bookened the summer with two 7-0 wins though in between I feel we could have done a lot better in a couple of those games. We are definitely missing Asante.
Fixtures:
Five games then to kick off the season, two of them against Colchester which should be interesting.
That completes what seems to be a long update so I hope it wasn’t too tough a read but though thansk for dropping by and taking the time.
Laxeyman
18 ноября, 2011 at 16:22
Despite the financial restrictions you’ve done well there Kevin, you’ve got some good players in, and they are all very young too, with the potential to get better and better :) I’m predicting at least a play off spot for you this season, good luck!
Kevin
18 ноября, 2011 at 20:19
Cheers Laxeyman
I very much wanted to avoid older players whom I may have to sell the following year. Hope your prediction comes true!
Johnny Karp
18 ноября, 2011 at 16:22
It was a busy summer indeed but I think you did good business there, especially judging by the club financial situation. I don’t think you will be missing Asante too much, that Scottish lad that you have on loan looks good enough in my view. Best of luck for the season!
Kevin
18 ноября, 2011 at 20:20
Hi Johnny
That summer took me several days to complete. Quite exhausting but a good use of vacation tim whenit’s -2C :) Really please with th Scottish lad and hopefully he can live up to my expectations
TheZiggy
18 ноября, 2011 at 16:37
The finances look a lot healthier now, that’s for sure. Definitely been a busy pre-season for you. Looks like you’ve done some good business there. Top half of the table looks a really good bet, in what should be an exciting season.
Kevin
18 ноября, 2011 at 20:21
Thaanks Ziggy
Very pleased now with the bank balance, just have to improve on the «goal» balance I feel.
Sears
18 ноября, 2011 at 17:22
You had a very productive summer Kevin. My favorite signing is the young Scottish striker, he looks incredible. Shame he wasn’t a bit quicker though! Good luck!
Kevin
18 ноября, 2011 at 20:23
Spot on Sears!
Pontondoes lack the pace otherwise he would be a cracker of a poacher!
I hope he can play asa a defensive forward, that’s where I’m trying him out.
vaibhavc
18 ноября, 2011 at 18:12
Very busy transfer window, that was quite a lot of players. The finances have improved, that is one good thing. Ekong will be good for you, as well as Lois Karius. I don’t understand why Asante would not want to come, that is just stupid. Ponton is a fantastic signing as well, but he needs to improve his pace.
Kevin
18 ноября, 2011 at 20:29
Hey vaibhavc
I couldn’t understand him not wanting to come back either as he’d have yet another good season.Ponton is fantastic and I’m looking forward to seeing what this kid can do!
Darren Smith
18 ноября, 2011 at 19:42
Finances were very tough for you Kevin but I think you’ve done wonders with next to nothing so well done. Those new players are all full of potential and lets hope enthusiasm. I look forward to what will be an interesting season.
Kevin
18 ноября, 2011 at 20:31
Hi Darren
As a budget manager in real life I really wanted to make sure I kept things in perspective and I feel I’ve done that. All these youngsters have incredible potential so as you say I hope they deliver on it.
George Dobson
18 ноября, 2011 at 19:44
you have signed some good players and youve done very well on the financal front keep going and good luck
Kevin
18 ноября, 2011 at 20:32
Thanks George
I’m very happy how things went in the end though it was quite a struggle at times.
CsAtlantis
18 ноября, 2011 at 21:34
Liverpool should be a great parent club, if you can get up to the Championship you should be able to get more of their best youngsters on loan, for now Nathan Eccleston is a good start
I think you have done well in the transfer market, those youngsters look pretty good, Karius and Ekong in particular look very capable at their age
Did you get a takeover which wiped out your debts? I thought Plymouth would start with a balance around -8 million pounds but I am not 100% sure about this
Kevin
19 ноября, 2011 at 09:58
Hi CsAtlantis
To answer your question fisrt there were no takeover bids announced though I did notoce that in FM 2011 so i have been half expecting that. I forogt to mention int he stort about a cash injection fom the board — about 200k.
I’m delighted with those two youngsters you mentioned and I hope to have them in the side for a long time. Looking forward to seeing what Eccleston can do.
Dan
18 ноября, 2011 at 21:56
Hey Kevin,
You did good in difficult circumstances but at least the clubs finances are looking much better so hopefully your heading into a good season, good luck!
Kevin
19 ноября, 2011 at 10:00
Thanks Dan
I hope those fiances keep moving in the right direction — up!! :)
Lye
19 ноября, 2011 at 01:25
Hi Kevin,
Despite a tight budget, you really do your things and put them under control. The new signings look solid and that’s some good business. Bobby Ponton should be a future start as he looks great at a tender age age of 16. I am sure with the existing players, a mid-table finish should be no problem but i am looking forward to a higher finish. Good luck.
Kevin
19 ноября, 2011 at 10:03
Hello Lye
With those attributes, Ponton was hard to resist and it will be interesting to see if he becomes a star in the game. Aside from him I was happy with all the deals done this summer though I would have loved Asante back!
David Wornham
20 ноября, 2011 at 08:01
Hello Kevin — A new member and always look forward to your updates. Well done on promotion and lets hope the kids do a job for you in League 1.
Good luck.
Kevin
20 ноября, 2011 at 08:36
Hi David
Greetings from Canada and I’m delighted that you have decided to leave a comment and have been enjoying the stroy thus far.Welcome aboard mate and thanks for the well wishes!
Ana Garcia
20 ноября, 2011 at 12:48
Some great new signings and really well done on balancing your finances the club looks really good at the moment.
Pre-season looked quite productive so you have a chance of having a pretty good season, so good luck! :)
Stromson
21 ноября, 2011 at 21:17
This should be a really interesting season for Plymouth, and I’m rather looking forward to it. Finances are looking much improved, and with a healthy squad, I’m hoping you won’t have any trouble surviving.