Lionel Ainsworth signed

WINGER Lionel Ainsworth has become Argyle's first signing of the summer.

The 29-year-old winger will move to Home Park following his release by Scottish Premiership side Motherwell after nearly 140 appearances for Argyle manager Derek Adams' former side, subject to registration formalities being completed.

The Steelmen were the 13th club in England and Scotland that Lionel has represented in a 300-plus game professional career that began against the Pilgrims.

The Nottingham-born attacker's first club was Derby County, for whom Lionel made his debut, as a late substitute, against Argyle in County's 1-0 Championship victory at Pride Park on February 25, 2006. The Pilgrims' team that afternoon included current first-team coach Paul Wotton.

After loan spells at Bournemouth, Halifax and Wycombe, Lionel was released by Derby at the end of the following season and signed for League Two Hereford United, scoring a hat-trick against Yeovil in his second appearance.

After only half a season at Edgar Street, Lionel returned to the Championship with Watford, for whom he made his full debut in a 1-0 Championship defeat at Vicarage Road, with David Norris scoring an 89th-minute winner for the Pilgrims.

After a loan spell back at Hereford, Lionel joined League One Huddersfield United, moving on to League Two Shrewsbury after another loan, at Brentford. Spells at Burton, Rotherham – where he played in the Millers’ first game at the New York Stadium – and Aldershot followed, before he moved north of the border to join Motherwell for the 2013-14 season.

In three seasons at Fir Park, Lionel made 138 appearances in the Scottish Premiership and cup, including the Europa League, scoring 27 goals and assisting another 29.

Welcome to Home Park, Lionel.

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not been released according to farm....declined new offer

The fact that he has opted to sign for Argyle rather stay at Motherwell is the interesting bit.

One to watch out for next season.

seems a good signing on paper

my hereford supporting mate sings his praises

harvetheslayer wrote:

not been released according to farm....declined new offer

Seems a good reason for them to release him then...

Sounds like the rubber stamp winger to any Adams squad. Given his age, his glass ceiling is there for all to see. He's no young up and comin' David Norris, that's for sure, and Argyle are not a club building a cohesive squad esprit de corps. It's just yet another new squad for the season, tuppence better than last week.  Like watching paint dry. I have more in common with the fish in the Sound.

Wonder if that mean Tanner isn't coming

Not a bad start to the squad building

Hugh Watt wrote:

Wonder if that mean Tanner isn't coming

Quote

Plymouth Argyle were promoted to League One in the summer and former Ross County boss Derek Adams has snapped up the out-of-contract star.

However, Motherwell have been linked with Craig Tanner - who was released from Plymouth at the end of the season.

He's played a lot of games for the last 4 seasons and scored a fair share of goals. Time will always tell but sounds fine for Lge 1. Welcome young man.

In Derek we trust.

LIONEL AINSWORTH has bid an emotional farewell to Motherwell and their supporters after agreeing to join Plymouth Argyle.

It was announced yesterday that a deal to extend his stay at Fir Park had been rejected leaving him free to join Derek Adams' side in Devon.

Manager Stephen Robinson had spoken about wishing to hold on to the former Derby County man, but the terms on offer were reluctantly knocked back by the Well winger.

Ainsworth was first brought to Motherwell by Stuart McCall back in 2014 after struggling to settle at over 10 clubs earlier in his career. He found home in Lanarkshire.

A fans' favourite due to some important - and spectacular strikes - it was with a heavy heart Ainsworth decided he had to move on.

Speaking exclusively to SportTimes, the 29-year-old said: "It's so hard to leave.

"I was settled there, I had my daughter there, I got engaged there. It all came about because Stuart McCall brought me in and allowed me to express myself.

"Fortunately I was able to go out and show what I could do and it was great to make the fans and the club want to keep me.

"I was really happy with that and my family were, too. We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Motherwell. The club have been great to me, the fans have been brilliant. They are the best I've ever come across. The reception they gave me throughout my time is something I'll always remember.

"I can't thank them enough. It's been absolutely amazing."

In the last year or so, Ainsworth's run in the Motherwell team became limited both under Mark McGhee then Stephen Robinson, his role often reduced to that of an impact sub from the bench.

It was a duty he performed admirably in what turned out to be his last home game at Fir Park as he scored a stunning free-kick to help see off Kilmarnock and secure Motherwell's safety.

Just as important, he also bagged a goal in each leg of the Premiership play-off two years ago to keep the Steelmen in the top flight.

"There have been a few highlights," added Ainsworth. "It's got to be staying in the Premiership and how we've managed it.

"You never want to be down there in a dog fight but if I had to choose to beat Rangers and this situation to win two games in a row, it was the right way to do it.

"I've scored a few goals for the club and everyone is special in its own way. The Hamilton goals when we played them at home and the Rangers goals will live with me for a long, long time."

In three seasons at Fir Park, Ainsworth made 138 appearances in the Scottish Premiership and cup, including the Europa League, scoring 27 goals and assisting another 29.

CONTROVERSIAL former Plymouth Argyle midfielder Carl McHugh told Lionel Ainsworth he would have no regrets about joining the Pilgrims.

McHugh swapped Home Park for the Scottish Premiership and Motherwell last summer after agreeing an extension to his contract in Devon with Derek Adams.

The U-turn prompted a strongly worded statement explaining Argyle's disappointment and drew criticism across social media from fans.

However, less than 12 months later, the Irish midfielder told Ainsworth he would be happy with his decision to sign-on with his former club in League One.

Speaking to Argyle's official website, Ainsworth said: "I had a bit of chat with him over what was happening and he couldn't talk highly enough of the club, which is brilliant.

"I am looking forward to getting started. It's a massive club that I'm joining. I am happy to be part of that and looking forward to the next season."

The 29-year-old's signature was announced by Argyle on Tuesday and the Pilgrims will be the 14th club of his professional career.

The winger has amassed more than 300 appearances over the course of his career, with the majority of those collected with Motherwell over the last four years.

Last season he was used predominantly as a substitute by the Steelmen, but in years gone by he has scored hat-tricks from midfield and notched in the Europa League too.

"What I'll bring is pace, a bit of trickery," he said. "I can go left or right. The main thing is to play to everybody's strengths, not just mine. I've got to play to other people's strengths, to suit them.

"Hopefully I can bring some goals and assist in a lot of goals, as I have done in previous years."

Ainsworth also believes momentum is important. Off the back of the Pilgrim's promotion from League Two he is optimistic about what can be achieved in 2017/18.

The former Derby County trainee is also backing Adams to bring in top-class players this summer.

"If we can keep that momentum, you never know what can happen," he said. "I'm sure the manager is going to bring some top players to the club.

"The club deserves it and the fans deserve it."

zyph wrote:

harvetheslayer wrote:

not been released according to farm....declined new offer

Seems a good reason for them to release him then...

released as in no offer made aka donaldson slew smith etc etc he has rejected new contract in favour of Argyle big difference

I take it thats the last we will see or hear about tanner.now with this signing then dont know to much about the fella other than he's a bit of a contract chaser 2yrs here 2yrs before he moves on..Anyway good luck & welcome to the theatre of greens you gunna need it

RegGreen wrote:

I take it thats the last we will see or hear about tanner.now with this  signing then dont know to much about the fella other than he's a bit of a contract chaser 2yrs here 2yrs before he moves on..Anyway good luck & welcome to the theatre of greens you gunna need it

Motherwell fans have said he is pacey and tricky, and he scores spectacular goals, he is also supposed to be good at set pieces also. They say he can only really play as an attacking right sided player and he doesn't track back and defend much; can also be a bit inconsistent. He was a first team regular for 3 seasons, last season he was used more as an impact sub.

Cant say i know too much about him too rate whether this is good or bad signing not that its far to judge that right off the bat in anycase.

If he has pace and can cross a ball then he could be a real asset.

Chemical Ali wrote:

RegGreen wrote:

I take it thats the last we will see or hear about tanner.now with this  signing then dont know to much about the fella other than he's a bit of a contract chaser 2yrs here 2yrs before he moves on..Anyway good luck & welcome to the theatre of greens you gunna need it

Motherwell fans have said he is pacey and tricky, and he scores spectacular goals, he is also supposed to be good at set pieces also. They say he can only really play as an attacking right sided player and he doesn't track back and defend much; can also be a bit inconsistent. He was a first team regular for 3 seasons, last season he was used more as an impact sub.

 Cheers for the heads on him..as i said seems a bit of a contract chaser dont seem to stay at most longer than 2yrs before his off motherwell being the exception
Not gunna judge the lad till i see him play but does seem to be improvement on what we normally sign..only time will tell