Source: FOOTYMAD
'What I know, the rest of the world will know some day'
Plymouth Argyle: Having had two spells in charge of Plymouth Argyle the Southend United manager Paul Sturrock is in a great position to comment on what's been going on behind the scenes at the club which saw Peter Reid sacked this week. Sturrock: 'Pilgrims sold £7 million worth of players' Blues boss Paul Sturrock insists he is is an innocent bystander as former club Plymouth Argyle sink further down the road to finacial ruin with debts of up to £17 million. Luggy was reappointed by the Pilgrims for a second spell as their manager in November 2007 and in the following January transfer window sold players of the calibre of Sylvain Ebanks-Blake, Dan Gosling and David Norris. And it's all been going downhill ever since with members of Argyle's previous 'New World' board of directors replacing Sturrock as head coach with Paul Mariner. Sturrock told www.thisisdevon.co.uk: "It's a big disappointment to me that I was involved in the demise of this football club. I wish they (the board) had listened to certain things I had said. I don't think the football club would be in same situation as it is now. But that didn't happen, and that's another story for another day." Luggy certainly sees the selling of the playing 'crown jewels' as a very important turning point. He said: "I think you have got to remember one thing – we sold £7 million worth of players. Trying to get the same standard into the football club was impossible. I had to take lesser players and hope I could mould them into a unit. I did the first year, when I brought in some loans, and I was going to do the same in the second year. There is a lot to be said, but on another day." Sturrock spent four successful years as the Pilgrims boss from 2000 to 2004, returning for another two years later on, so knew many of the Home park staff that were made redundant when the Devon club entered administration. Luggy revealed:"I feel for the people who are not there any longer. They were the backbone and the heart of that football club. They didn't deserve to get what has happened to them. And I feel for the staff who are there at this minute because they are having to work night and day, without pay, to keep the club surviving." Of course, in a further development, Pilgrims manager during the weekend's 2-0 defeat by the Shrimpers at Roots Hall Peter Reid has been sacked to be replaved as interim team boss by skipper Carl Fletcher. Here, Sturrock showed plenty of sympathy for the former Everton midfielder, telling www.echo-news.co.uk: "Peter put his own money into the club to help them and stayed there during circumstances which many other managers wouldn’t have put up with. They said it was down to results but I think that’s quite harsh. It’s strange timing too because they’re not sure who is going to be owning the club and I would’ve thought it would’ve been better to have someone experienced in charge. But they’ve gone with Carl Fletcher and Romain Larrieu and I hope they do well because I know them both and they’re cracking lads.” It's a tough world out there, as I'm sure Luggy is well aware with Uncle Ron lurking about.
