Post by Macmoish on Jan 21, 2011 8:36:52 GMT
Plymouth Herald
Plymouth Argyle will have to sell more of their players just to survive
PLYMOUTH Argyle must sell more of their players to ensure their financial survival.
Peter Ridsdale, the cash-strapped club's football consultant, has made the stark warning.
He revealed the Pilgrims had received bids for two players since the 3-1 win away to MK Dons on Tuesday.
Both were initially rejected, but one deal is now close to being completed after an improved offer was made.
The Herald understands Championship club Crystal Palace are poised to snap up left-back Onismor Bhasera.
Recently-appointed Palace manager Dougie Freedman saw Bhasera play for Argyle when they beat Bristol Rovers 3-2 at the Memorial Stadium on January 4.
Ridsdale is still waiting for promised funding to arrive from Argyle's two Japanese-based directors Yasuaki Kagami and George Synan.
In the meantime, the former Leeds United and Cardiff City chairman is endeavouring to make sure the Pilgrims stay afloat financially.
Ridsdale told The Herald: "I have got the unenviable job, in the short term, of trying to raise cash.
"That has to come from investors, current shareholders, sponsorship or player sales.
"The one thing that I don't think has got through to Argyle supporters is this club is on the brink of meltdown financially.
"I make no apology for saying it as bluntly as that.
"We have put a stopper in the bottle over the last few weeks by being able to sell players.
"But unless I can raise enough money to get through the season this club could go out of existence.
"When I tell people that they smile and say, 'Go into administration'. They think I'm exaggerating, but I'm not."
Argyle have already sold winger Craig Noone, defender Reda Johnson and striker George Donnelly during the January transfer window, which has raised £550,000.
That has enabled Argyle to pay off debts to HM Revenue and Customs which were the subject of a winding-up petition.
Ridsdale continued: "I'm not raising money through selling players because I want to. It's because I don't have a choice.
"Until such time as other funding comes from elsewhere I will continue to sell players because, regrettably, it's the only option on the table.
"I want to see a team who are competitive in this division for the rest of the season and who fans want to pay to watch.
"But we have to do the right things, and this club was in a mess beyond anything I have seen.
"People get sensitive when I say that, but those are the facts.
"I have to do my best for as long as I'm here to give Argyle fans some hope there is going to be a club going forward."
Ridsdale would not name the two players who Argyle had received bids for over the past 48 hours.
"Both of them were initially rejected, but one is back on because the amount of money on offer has been increased," he said.
"There may well be, therefore, one exit prior to the weekend. But these things either happen or suddenly fall down. You are never quite sure which it will be."
Ridsdale added: "One of the bids was rejected out of hand because it was clearly insufficient.
"But we are pretty close on the other one to doing a deal."
Palace tried to sign Bhasera in August, but Argyle turned down an undisclosed transfer fee for him.
That led to the 24-year-old Zimbabwe international agreeing an extended contract with the Pilgrims until the summer of 2012.
Bhasera grabbed his first goal for Argyle, in his 35th appearance, with a spectacular shot in the victory over MK Dons.
However, he had to be substituted at half-time because of a knee injury and Bhasera was still on crutches when he arrived at Home Park yesterday.
Bhasera is expected to be ruled out of Argyle's away game against Charlton Athletic at The Valley tomorrow (3pm).
Striker Joe Mason is also rated as very doubtful for the trip to south-east London because of an ankle injury he suffered at MK Dons.
Both he and Bhasera had MRI scans yesterday.
Meanwhile, Ridsdale confirmed there had been interest in taking Argyle centre-back Marcel Seip away from Home Park.
"There was a chance of Marcel leaving, but we want a fee and the club in question wanted to take him on a free," said Ridsdale.
"My job at the moment is to raise money, not to give players away."
Argyle have paid off more than £1 million in tax debts to HMRC recently, but still owe £265,000.
Until that issue is resolved, the Pilgrims will remain under a transfer embargo and manager Peter Reid cannot sign any new players.
www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/pafc/argyle/SELL-SURVIVE/article-3127765-detail/article.html
Plymouth Argyle will have to sell more of their players just to survive
PLYMOUTH Argyle must sell more of their players to ensure their financial survival.
Peter Ridsdale, the cash-strapped club's football consultant, has made the stark warning.
He revealed the Pilgrims had received bids for two players since the 3-1 win away to MK Dons on Tuesday.
Both were initially rejected, but one deal is now close to being completed after an improved offer was made.
The Herald understands Championship club Crystal Palace are poised to snap up left-back Onismor Bhasera.
Recently-appointed Palace manager Dougie Freedman saw Bhasera play for Argyle when they beat Bristol Rovers 3-2 at the Memorial Stadium on January 4.
Ridsdale is still waiting for promised funding to arrive from Argyle's two Japanese-based directors Yasuaki Kagami and George Synan.
In the meantime, the former Leeds United and Cardiff City chairman is endeavouring to make sure the Pilgrims stay afloat financially.
Ridsdale told The Herald: "I have got the unenviable job, in the short term, of trying to raise cash.
"That has to come from investors, current shareholders, sponsorship or player sales.
"The one thing that I don't think has got through to Argyle supporters is this club is on the brink of meltdown financially.
"I make no apology for saying it as bluntly as that.
"We have put a stopper in the bottle over the last few weeks by being able to sell players.
"But unless I can raise enough money to get through the season this club could go out of existence.
"When I tell people that they smile and say, 'Go into administration'. They think I'm exaggerating, but I'm not."
Argyle have already sold winger Craig Noone, defender Reda Johnson and striker George Donnelly during the January transfer window, which has raised £550,000.
That has enabled Argyle to pay off debts to HM Revenue and Customs which were the subject of a winding-up petition.
Ridsdale continued: "I'm not raising money through selling players because I want to. It's because I don't have a choice.
"Until such time as other funding comes from elsewhere I will continue to sell players because, regrettably, it's the only option on the table.
"I want to see a team who are competitive in this division for the rest of the season and who fans want to pay to watch.
"But we have to do the right things, and this club was in a mess beyond anything I have seen.
"People get sensitive when I say that, but those are the facts.
"I have to do my best for as long as I'm here to give Argyle fans some hope there is going to be a club going forward."
Ridsdale would not name the two players who Argyle had received bids for over the past 48 hours.
"Both of them were initially rejected, but one is back on because the amount of money on offer has been increased," he said.
"There may well be, therefore, one exit prior to the weekend. But these things either happen or suddenly fall down. You are never quite sure which it will be."
Ridsdale added: "One of the bids was rejected out of hand because it was clearly insufficient.
"But we are pretty close on the other one to doing a deal."
Palace tried to sign Bhasera in August, but Argyle turned down an undisclosed transfer fee for him.
That led to the 24-year-old Zimbabwe international agreeing an extended contract with the Pilgrims until the summer of 2012.
Bhasera grabbed his first goal for Argyle, in his 35th appearance, with a spectacular shot in the victory over MK Dons.
However, he had to be substituted at half-time because of a knee injury and Bhasera was still on crutches when he arrived at Home Park yesterday.
Bhasera is expected to be ruled out of Argyle's away game against Charlton Athletic at The Valley tomorrow (3pm).
Striker Joe Mason is also rated as very doubtful for the trip to south-east London because of an ankle injury he suffered at MK Dons.
Both he and Bhasera had MRI scans yesterday.
Meanwhile, Ridsdale confirmed there had been interest in taking Argyle centre-back Marcel Seip away from Home Park.
"There was a chance of Marcel leaving, but we want a fee and the club in question wanted to take him on a free," said Ridsdale.
"My job at the moment is to raise money, not to give players away."
Argyle have paid off more than £1 million in tax debts to HMRC recently, but still owe £265,000.
Until that issue is resolved, the Pilgrims will remain under a transfer embargo and manager Peter Reid cannot sign any new players.
www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/pafc/argyle/SELL-SURVIVE/article-3127765-detail/article.html