For Plymouth Argyle, 2010 has proved to be something of an ‘annus horribilis’-horrible year.
The Pilgrims were relegated from the Championship following a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of champions elect Newcastle United on April 19th 2010, which brought their six year stay in the division to an end.
Despite a brief resurgence under Paul Mariner in a spell that saw them record wins over Bristol City, Ipswich Town and Doncaster Rovers, it was not enough to save their Championship status.
In the close season, there was another managerial change at Home Park as Peter Reid was appointed as manager with Mariner remaining with the club as Head Coach. Mariner’s assistant John Carver also remained until the early stages of the 2010-11 campaign before he accepted a coaching role at Sheffield United.
There were also a number of playing departures during the close season as Jamie Mackie was snapped up by former Argyle boss Neil Warnock for Queens Park Rangers and Ashley Barnes joined Brighton and Hove Albion.
Northern Irish midfielder Damien Johnson signed for Huddersfield Town on a season long loan deal.
Also in the summer, Rory Fallon became the first Argyle player ever to appear in the World Cup Finals as he was ever present for New Zealand, in their first finals appearance since 1982, in South Africa.
Following their return to League One, the Pilgrims have remained a work in progress on the pitch, with Peter Reid so far only able to add Stephane Zubar, Anton Peterlin and loan signings David Button, Dean Parrett and Conor Clifford to his squad.
Off the pitch, life seems less certain with the club due to appear in the High Court regarding an unpaid tax bill in the region of £760,000 on February 9th 2011. At the original hearing on December 9th, the Pilgrims successfully fended off a winding up order, but they will need to come up with the full amount at the new date in February.
The club are also facing another winding up order on January 12th ahead of their scheduled February court date.
Their financial difficulties have also seen the non-playing staff at Home Park go without being paid in the build up to the festive season.
England’s failed bid to host the 2018 World Cup also had a knock on effect for the Pilgrims’ re-development plans for Home Park.
It also seems likely that star players Bradley Wright-Phillips, currently the leading scorer in League One with 12 goals, could be sold in the January transfer window along with winger Craig Noone who has produced a number of impressive displays for Argyle this season.
Another three players who also look likely to leave Home Park are Steven MacLean, Marcel Seip and Rory Fallon who are currently on loan at Oxford United, Charlton Athletic and Ipswich Town respectively.
There are also talk of potential new investors with former Leeds United and Cardiff City Chairman Peter Ridsdale-who has been a guest at a number of Argyle matches this season-being strongly linked with the Pilgrims.
This coincides with a number of changes that have taken place at boardroom level with Keith Todd resigning as Executive Director and Sir Roy Gardner standing down from his position as Chairman.
One ray of light for Argyle followers this year has been the emergence of a number of promising youngsters from the club’s youth system.
Striker Joe Mason has continued with his development after making his debut in December 2009 against Sheffield United and has received international recognition from the Republic of Ireland at Under-21 level.
He has been joined in the Argyle side in 2010 by Ryan Leonard, Curtis Nelson and Jack Stephens who have all made their debuts this year and they could well receive further first team opportunities in 2011.
Another was the Devon derby win over Exeter City on December 11th, which the Pilgrims secured with a brace from Wright-Phillips to avenge their Johnstone’s Paint Trophy exit at the hands of the Grecians.
