Plymouth Argyle FC

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• Founded:1886
• Manager:Peter Reid

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Sturrock targets Barnes stay

13 Mar 2009 - 08:22:57

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Plymouth Argyle boss Paul Sturrock is determined to try and ensure that rising star Ashley Barnes remains at Home Park for the foreseeable future.

The 19-year-old has become a first-team regular in recent weeks and Sturrock is ready to offer Barnes a new contract, amid rumours of interest from several Premier League clubs.

He told the Evening Herald: "I have taken Ashley into my first-team and he has now played four or five games where he has been very competitive.

"As a manager, I pick what I see and I like what I see with Ashley. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to appreciate I'm going to be trying to do a new deal for him.

"It seems to be a coincidence that his agent has phoned me twice lately and told me 'we will need to start thinking about a new contract'.

"What has probably happened is that his agent has been sat in the stands and, lo and behold, the scouts from Fulham, Stoke and West Ham have been there.

"All of a sudden, there are stories in the papers saying these teams have got an interest. When managers are sat in the stand, I will begin to worry."