Post by QPR Report on Jul 18, 2009 6:32:10 GMT
Plymouth Herald
WALTON LEFT AT HOME BY ARGYLE
Saturday, July 18, 2009,
TROUBLED midfielder Simon Walton has been left out of Plymouth Argyle's pre-season touring party.
Walton, 21 – potentially Argyle's record signing – is one of two players whose futures at Home Park appear to be in the balance.
The other, former Southampton midfielder Yoann Folly, also did not travel with a party which includes out of favour goalkeeper Graham Stack.
However, second-year apprentice Ryan Leonard has been included in the Argyle squad which plays non-league Skelmersdale today before heading north of the border.
Leonard's inclusion will be a huge boost to the 17-year-old former Ivybridge Community College student who played well in Argyle's pre-season friendly at Truro on Monday night.
Argyle boss Paul Sturrock did not discuss in detail whether either Walton or Folly were part of his long-term plans just before the squad departed on their tour.
Walton made only 14 appearances for Argyle last season and did not finish on a winning side.
He was signed from Queens Park Rangers on a four-year contract just before last season started.
Argyle agreed to pay up to £750,000 for the midfielder, depending on the number of appearances he made for the club and other clauses in the deal.
But he struggled to adapt to Sturrock's demands and ended the season on loan to Championship rivals Blackpool.
Sturrock said: "I have said all along that there is a clean slate for everyone.
"Simon has asked to be a centre-half and taking that into consideration, I have other players."
Sturrock said that the inclusion of Leonard was as cover for the injured David McNamee, who should return to action soon.
He said that it was important that they should take another recognised right back on the tour.
Sturrock said he hoped the tour would further the development of his squad for the 2009-10 Championship season.
He said: "Obviously, it's a build up as far as the team's concerned – it's important that we get our shape and organisation.
"We've done Austria and got the t-shirt and I thought it was important for us to have a change."
He added: "So far, the players have adapted to what we've asked them to do really well and they have responded to a different kind of training to the normal routine we normally do."
Today's friendly was set up as part of the deal which brought striker George Donnelly, currently sidelined by injury, to Home Park.
Sturrock said Donnelly would be present at the game, but he added: "His injury is going to put him back a bit – it was important for him to have a good pre-season."
Of today's friendly, Sturrock said: "I'm hoping it will be a good standard of performance and played in the kind of spirit I would expect."
www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/sport/WALTON-LEFT-HOME-ARGYLE/article-1176713-detail/article.html
WALTON LEFT AT HOME BY ARGYLE
Saturday, July 18, 2009,
TROUBLED midfielder Simon Walton has been left out of Plymouth Argyle's pre-season touring party.
Walton, 21 – potentially Argyle's record signing – is one of two players whose futures at Home Park appear to be in the balance.
The other, former Southampton midfielder Yoann Folly, also did not travel with a party which includes out of favour goalkeeper Graham Stack.
However, second-year apprentice Ryan Leonard has been included in the Argyle squad which plays non-league Skelmersdale today before heading north of the border.
Leonard's inclusion will be a huge boost to the 17-year-old former Ivybridge Community College student who played well in Argyle's pre-season friendly at Truro on Monday night.
Argyle boss Paul Sturrock did not discuss in detail whether either Walton or Folly were part of his long-term plans just before the squad departed on their tour.
Walton made only 14 appearances for Argyle last season and did not finish on a winning side.
He was signed from Queens Park Rangers on a four-year contract just before last season started.
Argyle agreed to pay up to £750,000 for the midfielder, depending on the number of appearances he made for the club and other clauses in the deal.
But he struggled to adapt to Sturrock's demands and ended the season on loan to Championship rivals Blackpool.
Sturrock said: "I have said all along that there is a clean slate for everyone.
"Simon has asked to be a centre-half and taking that into consideration, I have other players."
Sturrock said that the inclusion of Leonard was as cover for the injured David McNamee, who should return to action soon.
He said that it was important that they should take another recognised right back on the tour.
Sturrock said he hoped the tour would further the development of his squad for the 2009-10 Championship season.
He said: "Obviously, it's a build up as far as the team's concerned – it's important that we get our shape and organisation.
"We've done Austria and got the t-shirt and I thought it was important for us to have a change."
He added: "So far, the players have adapted to what we've asked them to do really well and they have responded to a different kind of training to the normal routine we normally do."
Today's friendly was set up as part of the deal which brought striker George Donnelly, currently sidelined by injury, to Home Park.
Sturrock said Donnelly would be present at the game, but he added: "His injury is going to put him back a bit – it was important for him to have a good pre-season."
Of today's friendly, Sturrock said: "I'm hoping it will be a good standard of performance and played in the kind of spirit I would expect."
www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/sport/WALTON-LEFT-HOME-ARGYLE/article-1176713-detail/article.html