Pilgrims on the brink: 'Either something happens or Plymouth Argyle could be gone'

 

The Shrimpers weekend opponents Plymouth Argyle will be stepping out at Roots Hall after their squad agreed to defer their wages once again, as the threat of the club's collapse looms ever larger.

 

A players strike was narrowly avoided recently, with the Pilgrims angry at having not been paid in full for several months.

 

But with businessman James Brent apparently closing in on a deal to secure Argyle's immediate financial future, keeper Romain Larrieu, who will certainly face Southend United in the Devon side's latest League Two clash Saturday afternoon, said all the squad realise they need to help out as best they can to get negotiations finalised.

 

Larrieu told the BBC: "The boys will sign the deferral, because we feel like we've reached a point where the club could go. The only way we're going to be paid is if someone takes over. Comparing the situation with two or three weeks ago, when we threatened, we are in more trouble than we were then. We are on the brink basically. Either something happens or the club could be gone."

 

Blimey!

 

Talking of takeovers though.............

 

Businessman James Brent, the man now leading the race to purchase Plymouth, has revealed a deal will not be resolved overnight.

 

But the hotelier said he has high hopes of the negotiations falling in his favour, after rival bidder Bishop International - fronted by Kevin Heaney - withdrew their interest on Wednesday.

 

There remain other consortiums and interested parties, including Paul Buttivant, but Brent is understood to be the club's administrators' preferred bidder.

 

He told BBC South-West: "Rather than quietly confident I'm quietly hopeful. It is complicated. It will take weeks rather than days to close something, and until it's done, it's not done. I've ended the week happier than I started it. There's no saying if something will blow up tomorrow or Monday that won't become a tank trap, but there's none in sight at the moment."

 

Best of luck lads, after 5pm tomorrow!