Plymouth Argyle have been linked with a takeover fronted by five-time Champions League winner and Welsh football legend, Gareth Bale.
After a hectic few weeks at Home Park, which included Miron Muslic’s departure to 2. Bundesliga side FC Schalke 04, the appointment of Tom Cleverley as his replacement, the arrival of four new players, and the departure of fan favourite Ryan Hardie to Wrexham, things have taken an even crazier turn.
Earlier this week, news emerged that a US-based consortium led by Bale was in talks with current Argyle chairman Simon Hallett about acquiring the Devon-based team.
In recent years, Hallett has openly voiced his ambition to pass on ownership, which might help Plymouth become a long-term Championship team. However, the agreement being explored between the two sides would reportedly see the US consortium gain complete ownership of PL2.
If Bale arrives, he will almost certainly have a clear plan for the club’s long-term future. With that in mind, the recent hire of young manager Cleverley might be the perfect fit for the Welshman’s long-term strategy, assuming he completes the buyout.
What Gareth Bale’s Plymouth Argyle blueprint could look like
There aren’t many specific information concerning the buyout right now, as it appears that a deal is still some time away. So far, all we know is that conversations are underway between the two parties, with Bale leading the way and supposedly receiving support from the Storch family, whose online presence is limited.
While discussions continue behind the scenes, there has been a lot of excitement and intrigue on social media about what the former Galactico could bring to Devon. Bale was a man who lived and breathed success throughout his playing career, finishing as the most decorated British footballer in history.
With that in mind, the 35-year-old will surely seek to reproduce some of his playing success, albeit at a lower level. In the short to medium term, it’s very clear what kind of pattern Bale would like to follow at Home Park.
Before focusing on long-term success, Plymouth must work hard to return to the Championship as soon as possible. Hardie’s exit has harmed the Greens’ promotion ambitions, and the club will need to be very strategic in order to replace the departing striker.
Bale will most likely be seeking to oversee advancement and improvement each season, while also maintaining a good core of players that grow with the club. The new ownership group’s funds will allow the club’s already robust infrastructure to be expanded in the coming years, propelling it to the next level.
Of course, a youthful head coach who can assist develop the squad in the coming years while also growing with the club would be critical in this anticipated plan. With Cleverley at the helm, Bale’s managerial prodigy may be right under his nose if and when he comes in the South West of England.
Tom Cleverley would likely suit Gareth Bale’s blueprint
Despite the heartbreaking news of Hardie’s recent relocation to North Wales, it’s a wonderful moment to be a member of the Green Army. With so much supposedly going on behind the scenes, Plymouth’s summer has only just begun.
After explaining the likely pattern for success that Bale could follow if he takes over at Home Park, it appears that the existing Argyle hierarchy’s choice of head coach may be a perfect fit for the plans of the potential incoming ownership.
Cleverley, a strong Championship manager at only 35 years old, may be the man to lead this immensely exciting new era on the south coast. The former Watford manager has a three-year term with the club and has enormous potential as a head coach.
| Tom Cleverley – Managerial record at Watford | ||||
| Matches | Won | Drawn | Lost | W% |
| 59 | 20 | 14 | 25 | 33.90 |
For example, at Birmingham City, Chris Davies was a young coach appointed to oversee current operations on the pitch while also growing with the squad and organization in the long run. So far, that appointment has been exactly what the proprietors wanted when he arrived at St Andrews at Knighthead Park.
With that in mind, Plymouth will be looking to follow Birmingham’s success in bouncing back from League One and returning to the second division in a much better position than they left it under new ownership.
The Pilgrims already have a good core of players, and with Cleverley, an up-and-coming young head coach, at the helm, Bale may already have the ideal man in place to carry out his vision at Home Park.
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