The high turnover of players at Plymouth Argyle this summer is ‘natural’ after relegation from the Championship at the end of last season, according to the club’s head of football operations David Fox.
The former Pilgrims’ midfielder began his role a couple of weeks after the end of the 2024/25 campaign and there has been a lot of changes in playing personnel since then. A whole host of players have moved on, including some of Argyle’s longest-serving ones, such as Ryan Hardie, Jordan Houghton and Adam Randell.
Mustapha Bundu, Saxon Earley, Dan Grimshaw and Ben Waine have joined new clubs while Michael Baidoo and Nathanael Ogbeta have left on loan. Coming the other way have been six players so far – Jamie Paterson, Caleb Watts, Jack MacKenzie, Bradley Ibrahim, Xavier Amaechi and Owen Oseni.
Fox said in an interview with Argyle TV: “It’s the reality that we have been relegated. I think that’s probably there for people to see now, that there is going to be a change after relegation.
“I just think that’s natural. It’s the start of what I would say is a new cycle. That’s not uncommon, that’s what happens. If you go back to when I left the club in 2019 we had just been relegated, same situation.
“The club found itself in League Two and there was a huge change, with (Ryan), with Steven (Schumacher), with a new backroom staff and players like myself, (Graham) Carey, (Ruben) Lameiras, (Freddie) Ladapo – lads that the fans really connected to – all moved on.
“There has to be a change, there has to be a change in mentality, there has to be a feeling of freshness around the place, and you have to have people that want to be here, want to fight and scrap, and be part of being at Plymouth Argyle, not to be in the Championship.
“Now, lads that have moved on this summer, some wanted to stay but we couldn’t offer them Championship football and that’s ultimately what they wanted, to play in the Championship.
“What we can offer is an unbelievable platform to people to come and play, and come and really progress and perform. This club has been littered with players that haven’t been been stand-out careers at unbelievable levels but we give them the platform.
“The Ryan Hardies that came from Blackpool reserves and hadn’t really been on anyone’s radar, we give them the platform to perform and to bring the best out of themselves, but you have to be the right character to do that.
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