Walton...
Plymouth Herald
HOPE I STILL HAVE AN ARGYLE FUTURE
OUT of favour Argyle midfielder Simon Walton has revealed he would rather have stayed in Plymouth than go out on loan.
Walton, just 21, will join his eighth club in his short career when he reports for duty at Argyle's relegation rivals Blackpool on Monday.
The midfielder, who signed from QPR for an undisclosed fee last August, will be at the Seasiders until the end of the season.
But, according to the terms of his loan agreement, he will not be able to play against Argyle when the two sides meet at Bloomfield Road in a relegation clash next Saturday (April 4).
Walton, who has also been considered for central defence by Argyle manager Paul Sturrock, made it clear he wanted to stay at Home Park and fight for his place.
Walton insisted the first year of his three-year contract at Plymouth Argyle had not been a waste of time.
But he accepted that his stay so far had not gone how he would have liked.
Walton said: "The Blackpool offer sort of came out of the blue.
"There's been a few teams sniffing around, but there was nothing that really seemed worthwhile and I had really resigned myself to getting my head down and working my hardest at Plymouth.
"It all got finalised very quickly and I am looking forward to getting back to football, although I had really set my sights on my game here. Obviously, that's not to be.
"It is funny that, having said I want to play football, when Blackpool play Plymouth next week I won't be able to play, because it's been put into my contract that I can't."
Walton said it was not up to him to decide where his future might lie.
He said: "With Blackpool, I suppose the shop window scenario kicks in.
"But I have made it clear that I'm not looking to move anywhere.
"My family are here and I want to continue playing here. I'd like to think that I've still got a future at Plymouth, but this (the move to Blackpool) was a chance to play some football."
Walton added: "I wouldn't say I've wasted my time at Plymouth, though I probably haven't made the best of it.
"It's been a good experience and it's made me stronger as a person.
"Everyone has an off season, whether it's due to injury or loss of form, although obviously, this season is not one I'd like to be remembered for.
"But I'm here at Home Park on a three-year contract, and there's still two of them left.
"Surely the next two can't be as bad as this one
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