Football League World

Football League World

Is James Brent the right man to lead Plymouth Argyle forward?

Written by: Anthony Yeo

In 2011, Plymouth Argyle were days away from going out of business, which would of meant that Plymouth would of become the largest city in Europe without a professional football club.


James Brent a former banker had been advising at the club as they desperately searched for a buyer, but when none were fourth coming he stepped up and saved the football club.

Brent and his family had not watched a football match for 23 years before he brought Argyle, but he felt that his City needed to keep this huge community asset alive.

Since then he has stabilised the club and this season Argyle should be free of the debt left buy the so called New World Order, a group of millionaire investors from Japan, who almost ruined the West Country’s biggest club.

Brent made several promises when he took charge at Home Park to put the club on an even keel financially, and to complete the redevelopment of the stadium.

One of those have been upheld but the rebuilding if the main stand at Home Park has not come close to fruition, despite three planning applications being granted, Argyle have still yet to see any further progress on that front.

Some Argyle fans although have respect for the man that saved the club feel that one of Brent’s failings is that we still have a dilapidated grand stand, that is an eye sore and needs to be torn down before it is condemned.

Another bug bear of Argyle fans is that Argyle charge the most for tickets in League Two yet have one of the smallest playing staff budget’s in the division.

Brent recently revealed that he and the Argyle board turn away investors from the club on a monthly basis, because they don’t feel they have the best interest of the club at heart.

Some of the buyers are thought to be extremely wealthy people but Brent said that the intentions of the buyers were not suitable for the Argyle and the City of Plymouth, and he would not hand the club over just to see Plymouth Argyle back to the dark days of when he took over.