Derek Adams set to seach for new Scottish players

DEREK ADAMS will return to Scotland on a scouting trip next weekend as he plans on strengthening his Plymouth Argyle squad during the January transfer window.

Adams has only been back to his homeland once since he was appointed as the Pilgrims' boss in the summer.

But Argyle now have a two-week break before their next game as they have already gone out of the FA Cup, with second round ties taking place on December 5/6.

Adams has seen his small squad depleted by injuries over recent weeks and Argyle picked up another couple in their 1-1 draw at Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday.

Midfield duo Graham Carey and Josh Simpson had to be substituted at the break because of knee and groin problems respectively.

Adams will want to recruit reinforcements for his squad in January for the second half of the season.

Scotland has already proved to be a good source of talent for him, with Carey, top scorer Jake Jervis and winger Gregg Wylde all recruited from north of the border in the summer.

The 40-year-old former Ross County boss said: "I will go back up there next weekend.

"I will go and watch a number of Scottish fixtures and see if there are any players up there. The rest of my staff will be out scouting in England."

The injuries to Carey and Simpson, which are still being assessed, came after midfielder Lee Cox was allowed to leave on loan for League Two rivals Stevenage last Thursday.

Cox, 25, had been out of favour at Home Park, making only five substitute appearances all season under Adams.

However, he played the whole game for Stevenage when they won 4-3 at home to Morecambe on Saturday.

Adams is confident a number of Argyle's injured players will be fit again for the next game, which is against Cambridge United at Home Park on December 12.

Goalkeeper Luke McCormick, centre-back Peter Hartley and striker Reuben Reid could all be available.

But Adams admitted on-loan Crystal Palace midfielder Hiram Boateng would still be out of action by then.

Boateng has returned to the Premier League club for treatment to what Adams has described as a 'leg injury.'

Adams was asked by Herald Sport whether he regretted letting Cox leave for Stevenage and replied: "No, we have got the two-week break.

"We have got players that will be back into the fold before the next game."

Adams revealed that Stevenage had made their move for Cox only a couple of hours before The Football League's 'emergency loan' deadline last Thursday.

"I think it was about half-past-two," said Adams. "Lee's agent phoned us and so did the chief executive from Stevenage.

"In the conversation we had with Lee's agent he intimated that he (Cox) did want to go on loan and the deal went through quickly."

Argyle lost top spot in League Two to Oxford United following the 1-1 draw at Dagenham.

Oxford continued their excellent run of results with a 1-0 win away to Hartlepool United and moved above the Pilgrims on goal difference.

Still, Argyle are on 40 points by the end of November and will hope – injuries permitting – to sustain a challenge at the top of the table.

Adams said: "We have played 25 games (in league and cup competitions) and put ourselves in a very good position.

"Any Argyle fan would have taken that at the start of the season."

clearly adams and cox had a falling out i dont think if they had a decent woring relationship he would have gone given the injury crisis.

Angry wrote:

clearly adams and cox had a falling out i dont think if they had a decent woring relationship he would have gone given the injury crisis.

Should that be whoring or working

Les Miserable wrote:

Angry wrote:

clearly adams and cox had a falling out i dont think if they had a decent woring relationship he would have gone given the injury crisis.

Should that be whoring or working

let it be both lol

Probably fortunate we have a 2 week break as its turned out

Looks like Plymouth will be emptying out for a few days. Still, Adams has done an excellent job and deserves to pop back home and take a bit of a "scout around".
He may well have more success in Scotland looking for converts. Little point him bobbing around the North of England or London where he doesn't know a soul, and a coffee would exceed Brent's budget..

His already blown brents budget on the train fare up there

RegGreen wrote:

His already blown brents budget on the train fare up there  

But sadly a reflection of the lack of finance and ambition from the reluctant one. Basically if we don't get some (decent) new players in -forget promo!
We will see as always.

akagreengull wrote:

RegGreen wrote:

His already blown brents budget on the train fare up there  

But sadly a reflection of the lack of finance and ambition from the reluctant one. Basically if we don't get some (decent) new players in -forget promo!
We will see as always.

ive got that feeling that its gunna be the same as this time last season when the reluctant one didnt get his hand in his pocket and left it to late to renew the loan contracts

Looks like for the first time since pre-administration, we are looking to spend money on potential signings. Whether or not it actually happens mind...

ejh wrote:

Looks like for the first time since pre-administration, we are looking to spend money on potential signings. Whether or not it actually happens mind...

i wont hold my breath. if del bhey finds any wildling players beyond the wall the chances are he'll move for them in the summer on frees.

You could wait until the summer to get players on a freebie but if we are to continue with a promotion push we need new players now and again in the summer. this is the time we will see how committed Brent is to supporting argyle for a promotion. Get your cheque book out Brent.

lawnmowerman wrote:

You could wait until the summer to get players on a freebie but if we are to continue with a promotion push we need new players now and again in the summer. this is the time we will see how committed Brent is to supporting argyle for a promotion. Get your cheque book out Brent.

i know that you know that most fans know that but this brent we are talking about. he isnt going to fund shit...unless a stranger asks for cash

ejh wrote:

Looks like for the first time since pre-administration, we are looking to spend money on potential signings. Whether or not it actually happens mind...

Where are the club/chairman quoted as saying that ? I must have missed it, or perhaps you're reading the wrong runes, as is the Aviva way.
I assume you are talking about paying a capital fee for someone, or are you just talking about signing players on a bulk standard employment contract  ?
I really can't see Brent spending a material capital sum on any employee, if only because he would have to contract the new unproven player to at least 2 years employment to protect "his" capital investment. Brent's a modern sort of zero hours chap ( check out the pavillions ) and investor in real estate, not an investor in shop floor folk, football players or bar staff.
Will be interesting to see what he does with the in demand players already on the books though. I assume it will be up to Adams to play a canny game. Could be Adams' only choice is to, in current parlance, "front load" Brent's budgeted revenue spending, and have a barney later on.

Angry wrote:

lawnmowerman wrote:

You could wait until the summer to get players on a freebie but if we are to continue with a promotion push we need new players now and again in the summer. this is the time we will see how committed Brent is to supporting argyle for a promotion. Get your cheque book out Brent.

i know that you know that most fans know that but this brent we are talking about. he isnt going to fund shit...unless a stranger asks for cash

Dont worry angry I`m very well aware brent will fund feck all unless its a loan with huge interest added.