- Grovehill wrote:
- akagreengull wrote:
- Presumably scouted by video?
Recommended by Robbie Fowler.
Owner says Analytics is the way to recruit players.
Manager signs players he's played in the same side as or on mates recommendations
The Plymouth Live version:
The Pilgrims' boss has talked about the signing of Macaulay Gillesphey from A-League club Brisbane Roar
Ryan Lowe has revealed that his former Bury player Jay O’Shea first raised the prospect of him signing defender Macaulay Gillesphey for Plymouth Argyle.
Lowe also sought out the opinion of ex-England and Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler, who signed the 25-year-old for Australian side Brisbane Roar in 2019.
The recommendations from O’Shea and Fowler paved the way for Gillesphey to sign a two-year contract with the Pilgrims.
The deal is subject to international clearance and the passing of a medical, with the Newcastle United academy product already on his way to England.
Gillesphey’s second season with Brisbane Roar ended on Sunday when they lost 2-1 at home to Adelaide United in the first stage of the A-League Finals Series.
Also in their side was 32-year-old O’Shea, who was a team-mate of Lowe at Bury before the latter became their manager.
Lowe told Plymouth Live: “Jay O’Shea is good mates with him (Gillesphey) from over there. He played with him for the past two seasons.
“The boy had said he wanted to get back to England and Jay told him he would be perfect for the way I play because he’s a left-sided centre-half.
“Then Jay got in touch with me and Schuey (assistant manager Steven Schumacher) and that’s really where the interest came from.
“Jay said he was quality, and his agent contacted us so we sat down with him and discussed what the situation looked like and how it was going to work.
“He was their player-of-the-year last season and was probably not far off their player-of-the-year this season.
“I did my due diligence and spoke to Robbie Fowler regarding him and he said ‘Great lad, great player’.
“Obviously, he can improve, which most players can. Once we sat down the agent and then I spoke to Macaulay it was a done deal.
“It has been in the pipeline for a little while but we had to respect Brisbane because they had offered him a new contract.
“We had to wait until he told them that he wasn’t signing and then we could speak to the boy.
“There was a lot of interest in him from Australia as well, and a lot of interest from England.
“So it was one that came out of the blue in terms of an old player of ours recommending him.
“All his numbers added up of the type of player he is and here he is, he’s going to be a Plymouth Argyle once his medical has come through.”
Lowe continued: “When I first started management I always said I didn’t want to miss a call.
“So I remember having two phones at one point, because that call you might miss could be someone that you think ‘I could have had him’.
“We still speak to Jay O’Shea now. He has got a good relationship with Schuey and myself.
“He’s a good player and knows his football. He has seen a lad there with potential and has thought he would be perfect for us.
“So he recommended him to us first and foremost and then we put everything together, the due diligence and all the numbers stacked up, it was a no-brainer.
“He has got the pedigree. Players from Newcastle are no mugs.
“He went away for two years, away from his family at a young age, and tested himself.
“He was desperate to get back to England and here he is with us.”
Gillesphey joined Brisbane, the three times A-League champions, from Carlisle United.
Fowler was manager of the Roar at the time so knows all about him.
“When I spoke to Robbie about him he said he was their player-of-the-year, has a great left foot, can defend, can attack,” explained Lowe.
“They are hard to come by those types of players. We didn’t have to sell much to Macaulay.
“He knew what Plymouth Argyle was about. He’s going to move down with his girlfriend.
“So I’m really pleased. He’s a good lad, a good footballer and there is room for improvement with him also.”
Brisbane finished fourth in the 12-team A-League this season, with Gillesphey starting 22 of their 26 games and scoring three goals.
Lowe said: “It’s fast and furious. When you think of the A-League you look at all these players who are over there now.
“Craig Noone is over there (at Melbourne City) and he used to play for Argyle, and obviously there is Jay O’Shea.
“We know it’s a good league, we know it has got better year after year so we have no doubt that Macaulay will come in and hit the ground running.”
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Tue Jun 15, 2021 2:52 pm
i wonder who it could be 
Genuinely thought that he was coming from Leyton Orient when i read the tweet,even had a look at their forums-what an unobservant numpty! No idea what the guy is like but good luck to him and at least Grovey can't say that Brisbane is in the same vicinity as Bury.
